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Much like Storm Claudia swept through the northwest the previous evening, City swept the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal win for their manager's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Losses for United

This scoreline signalled consecutive Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their championship aspirations severely dented.

Manchester United's capability to balance league and continental soccer with a small team has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the Champions League. Reviewing the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they looked tired all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had sought to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought freshness, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned.

Manchester City, in comparison, have fewer fitness concerns. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her first start since healing from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to gather for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose energetic forward line controlled and dismantled the opposition with a superb first half display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and left United all at sea. Before this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her strength to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, using the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had a number of forays forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, meanwhile, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th header of the season.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the center from central defence, the field widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a precise driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third after a swift turnover in the ball saw Hemp given the space to strike a effort home from outside the box.

Second Half

The primary substitution came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to beat any side who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and United to position them in a commanding standing after nine games.