🔗 Share this article Man City Three Goals to Nil Man United: Lauren Hemp finds the net in Manchester City dominant win. Similar to Storm Claudia hit the northern region the prior day, City overwhelmed the visitors away at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three-nil win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the WSL pinnacle. Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United This result signalled back-to-back Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them seven points off the league leaders with their championship aspirations severely dented. The Red Devils' ability to balance domestic and continental football with a small team has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Regrettably for the opposition, they looked fatigued throughout, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact. Tactical Shifts Marc Skinner had sought to make changes with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought energy, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows. The hosts, in comparison, have no such loading worries. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback. Commanding Opening Period The pressure started to gather for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose energetic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a excellent initial 45 minutes display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes. This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this fixture, United had allowed just six in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of the hosts' attacking flair. Early Chances The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line. The Red Devils had multiple attacks forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, commanded possession, teasing their rivals and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape. Triple Strike 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 7th header of the campaign. They added to their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from defense, the play opened up for the hosts. The influential Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before sending a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the room to strike a attempt home from outside the box. Second Half The most obvious substitution came from Skinner at the interval as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the game. Former City player Park came closest, rattling the post, but the visitors were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a single shot on target. The hosts, on the other hand, could have added to their advantage when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have wins against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable standing after nine games.