🔗 Share this article

Just as the recent storm swept through the northern region the previous evening, Manchester City overwhelmed Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic 3-0 win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Successive Defeats for United

This outcome signalled consecutive WSL setbacks for Skinner's side for the first time since May 2024, leaving them seven points off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capacity to balance domestic and continental soccer with a small roster has been a hotly discussed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would seriously challenge this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they appeared tired from start to finish, the historic win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

Skinner had sought to make changes with a handful of adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

City, in contrast, have fewer loading concerns. Andrée Jeglertz made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since returning from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose dynamic offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and saw the visitors all at sea. Prior to this fixture, United had allowed just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were causing problems and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks forward, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the flanks but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, commanded the ball, teasing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They added to their cushion with two more goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was able to advance through the middle from defense, the field became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before sending a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third after a swift turnover in the ball saw Hemp afforded the room to fire a attempt home from range.

After the Break

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and were unable to record a single shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have added to their lead when a superb Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who ended above them last season, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a strong situation after the opening fixtures.