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Much like bad weather swept through the north-west the previous evening, the home side swept Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 win for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for United

This result signalled successive league setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s capability to balance domestic and continental football with a small roster has been a widely debated issue since they secured entry to the UCL. Looking at the schedule, it always felt like this was the matchday that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the opposition, they seemed fatigued all game, the landmark win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought vigor, although the exclusion of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

The hosts, in opposition, have no such loading issues. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the strength from City whose energetic forward line played with and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this match, the away side had conceded just few in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the presence of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came early when Miedema used her power to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had a number of attacks forwards, their long-ball tactic giving them choices in the wings but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the season.

They added to their advantage with two more goals just before the half-time. When Rose was permitted to advance through the center from central defence, the play opened up for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the wing before delivering a precise low cross for Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third after a quick turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to strike a effort home from distance.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the match. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and failed to produce a single shot on goal.

The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their cushion when a excellent Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the winning team. After failing to beat any side who finished above them in the prior term, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and United to place them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.