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Just as the recent storm hit the northwest the prior day, City overwhelmed the visitors away at the their home ground. It was a statement 3-0 triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their title credentials as they reinforced their standing at the league summit.

Successive Setbacks for United

This scoreline represented consecutive league losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented.

The Red Devils' capability to balance league and European soccer with a limited team has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they looked tired from start to finish, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a several changes. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

City, in contrast, have no similar fitness concerns. Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to build for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the power from City whose energetic forward line played with and tore United open with a superb opening period showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the face of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Hemp was at the core of everything early on, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had multiple forays ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, taunting their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They increased their cushion with two more goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to advance through the center from central defence, the field became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before sending a accurate low cross for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift change in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to drive a attempt home from distance.

Final Period

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the break as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, rattling the upright, but the away team were offensively poor and failed to record a single shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a excellent Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any opponent who ended above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a favorable situation after nine games.