Manchester City Three-Nil Man United: Lauren Hemp scores in City dominant win.

Similar to the recent storm hit the northern region the night before, the home side blew Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing three goal triumph for their manager's side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they strengthened their position at the league summit.

Consecutive Losses for United

This outcome marked consecutive league defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle league and continental soccer with a limited squad has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the European competition. Reviewing the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they appeared weary all game, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench was questioned.

The hosts, in opposition, have no such workload concerns. Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb first half display that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors struggling. In advance of this fixture, the away side had allowed just few in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, using the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties ahead, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, commanded the ball, teasing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the campaign.

They extended their lead with two more goals just before the interval. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the center from central defence, the field widened for City. The influential Casparij collected the pass on the wing before delivering a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the room to fire a shot home from outside the box.

After the Break

The primary substitution came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to record a one shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have added to their cushion when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable position after nine games.