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Much like bad weather tore through the northwest the previous evening, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic 3-0 victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United

This outcome represented successive league setbacks for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since May 2024, leaving them seven points off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capability to manage domestic and continental soccer with a small team has been a hotly discussed subject since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the week that would fully examine this capability. Sadly for the visitors, they looked fatigued all game, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a handful of adjustments. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

Manchester City, in opposition, have fewer workload worries. The City coach made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his team from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the strength from Manchester City whose potent attack manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime initial 45 minutes display that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This placed City completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. In advance of this match, the away side had allowed just a handful in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of City’s creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything early on, using the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had several sorties ahead, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, probing their opposition and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Scoring Spree

They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the season.

They added to their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from the back, the field widened for City. The influential Casparij collected the pass on the right side before providing a accurate driven ball for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp afforded the room to drive a attempt home from outside the box.

After the Break

The primary change came from Skinner at the break as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the game. Former City player Jess Park came most likely to score, striking the post, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to register a single shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any side who placed above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have wins against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong situation after nine games.