Man City 3-0 Man United: Lauren Hemp scores in City dominant win.

Just as the recent storm swept through the northwest the night before, City blew Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil victory for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the top of the table.

Consecutive Losses for Manchester United

This outcome signalled successive Women's Super League defeats for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capacity to juggle league and European soccer with a limited squad has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would fully examine this fortitude. Regrettably for the opposition, they appeared fatigued from start to finish, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to make changes with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the bench raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have fewer fitness worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose potent attack manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and had Manchester United all at sea. In advance of this encounter, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The omens came soon when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of sorties forward, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was permitted to maraud through the center from the back, the play opened up for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third after a swift shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to strike a shot home from range.

Final Period

The most obvious adjustment came from the United manager at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the contest. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, hitting the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to register a single shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any team who placed above them last season, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against the Gunners and United to place them in a commanding situation after the opening fixtures.