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Just as bad weather tore through the north-west the previous evening, City overwhelmed Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three goal triumph for the City coach's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the top of the table.

Successive Losses for Manchester United

This result represented consecutive WSL losses for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

United’s ability to balance league and European football with a small roster has been a frequently analyzed subject since they earned a place in the European competition. Looking at the schedule, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the away side, they appeared tired throughout, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no such fitness worries. The City coach made one change from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose potent forward line controlled and tore United open with a sublime opening period showing that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes.

This left the home team in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. In advance of this fixture, the away side had conceded just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the face of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.

Early Chances

The warning signs came early when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had a number of attacks forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their organization.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's 7th goal from a cross of the campaign.

They added to their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the center from central defence, the field became spacious for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before delivering a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the room to strike a shot home from range.

After the Break

The clearest substitution came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was futile to change the course of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, hitting the woodwork, but the away team were lacking in ideas and failed to register a solitary shot on goal.

The home side, on the other hand, could have extended their cushion when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. After failing to beat any team who ended above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a commanding position after nine games.