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Much like bad weather hit the north-west the prior day, City blew the visitors aside at the their home ground. It was a emphatic 3-0 win for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for United

This outcome represented successive league defeats for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capacity to juggle domestic and continental football with a limited squad has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they seemed tired all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Skinner had sought to make changes with a several alterations. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added vigor, although the exclusion of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned.

City, in comparison, have no similar loading issues. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for the United boss and his side from the first whistle. This was a show of the quality from Manchester City whose energetic offense manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime first half display that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this match, United had allowed just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of City’s offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple sorties forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. City, meanwhile, dominated possession, taunting their rivals and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the season.

They added to their lead with two more goals just before the interval. When Rose was allowed to drive through the center from central defence, the pitch became spacious for City. The influential Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a rapid change in possession saw Hemp given the room to fire a shot home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former City player Park came nearest, hitting the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to register a one shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to overcome any team who placed above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against Arsenal and United to place them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.