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Just as bad weather swept through the northern region the night before, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil triumph for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This scoreline represented successive Women's Super League defeats for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them seven points off the table toppers with their title hopes in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capacity to balance domestic and European soccer with a thin squad has been a hotly discussed topic since they earned a place in the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always appeared this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they appeared weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided vigor, although the omission of the on-form Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

City, in opposition, have fewer fitness concerns. The City coach made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose dynamic attack controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent opening period display that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts completely dominant and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this encounter, the away side had allowed just six in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of attacks forward, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, dominated possession, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Triple Strike

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the season.

They extended their lead with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from the back, the play widened for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before delivering a accurate ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp given the opportunity to drive a shot home from range.

Second Half

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and did not manage to register a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong standing after nine matches.