🔗 Share this article

Much like bad weather hit the north-west the night before, Manchester City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a convincing three-nil victory for the City coach's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their championship potential as they consolidated their place at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Defeats for United

This outcome marked back-to-back Women's Super League defeats for the United manager's side for the first time since spring 2024, leaving them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions severely dented.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle domestic and European soccer with a small team has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the fixture list, it always appeared this was the matchday that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the opposition, they appeared fatigued all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

The United manager had tried to rotate the squad with a handful of changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in contrast, have no such loading issues. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The pressure started to build for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the quality from Manchester City whose potent offense controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour.

This placed City firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. In advance of this match, United had allowed just few in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the presence of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had multiple sorties forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, dominated the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team 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 seventh headed goal of the season.

They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a accurate driven ball for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp afforded the room to fire a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The clearest substitution came from Skinner at the break as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to register a single shot on goal.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any team who finished above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a commanding standing after nine matches.