The Citizens Three-Nil Manchester United: Hemp on target in City comfortable victory.

Similar to the recent storm swept through the north-west the previous evening, Manchester City swept Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three goal victory for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their championship potential as they reinforced their position at the league summit.

Consecutive Defeats for United

This result marked successive league defeats for the United manager's side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them seven points off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

United’s ability to manage domestic and European football with a thin roster has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the fixture list, it always seemed this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Regrettably for the opposition, they looked weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had attempted to make changes with a a few alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

City, in comparison, have fewer workload worries. Andrée Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his side 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 performance that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This placed City completely dominant and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this match, the away side had conceded just few in this league campaign but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came soon when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, probing their opponents and trying to lure them of their structure.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.

They added to their cushion with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the center from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before delivering a precise low cross for Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a rapid shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the room to drive a shot home from outside the box.

Final Period

The most obvious substitution came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the match. Ex- City player Park came nearest, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a excellent Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to defeat any side who finished above them last season, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a favorable position after nine games.