🔗 Share this article Man City Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp scores in City comfortable victory. Just as the recent storm swept through the northern region the night before, the home side blew the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a statement 3-0 win for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their championship potential as they consolidated their standing at the WSL pinnacle. Successive Defeats for United This scoreline signalled successive Women's Super League setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread. United’s capability to manage league and continental soccer with a thin roster has been a hotly discussed subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the week that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the away side, they seemed tired all game, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark. Team Changes The United manager had tried to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the exclusion of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned. Manchester City, in comparison, have fewer workload worries. Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback. Dominant First Half The pressure started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from City whose potent attack manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime first half display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes. This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Before this fixture, United had let in just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the face of City’s offensive ingenuity. Initial Opportunities The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything early on, using the room left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line. United had multiple forays forward, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded possession, probing their opponents and trying to pull them out of their structure. Goals Galore They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the campaign. They extended their advantage with two more goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the middle from central defence, the field widened for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before sending a accurate low cross for Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to drive a shot home from range. After the Break The primary substitution came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to record a solitary shot on goal. The home side, on the other hand, could have increased their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the winning team. Having failed to defeat any opponent who finished above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and United to put them in a strong position after nine games.