🔗 Share this article

Much like bad weather swept through the north-west the prior day, City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for their manager's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their championship potential as they strengthened their standing at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for United

This outcome represented successive league setbacks for the United manager's side for the first time since spring 2024, leaving them seven points off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

Manchester United's capacity to manage league and European soccer with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they seemed fatigued throughout, the memorable win against the French side clearly having left its mark.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided vigor, although the dropping of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in opposition, have no similar fitness concerns. Jeglertz made one change from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his side from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic attack controlled and tore United open with a sublime initial 45 minutes performance that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This placed City completely dominant and left United disorganized. Before this match, the away side had allowed just six in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came early when Miedema used her power to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the room left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of attacks ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the flanks but they could not trouble Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, dominated the ball, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the back post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was able to drive through the center from central defence, the pitch opened up for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before providing a precise ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in the ball saw Hemp afforded the room to fire a shot home from range.

After the Break

The clearest change came from Skinner at the half-time as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to produce a single shot on target.

The hosts, in contrast, could have added to their advantage when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the winning team. After failing to defeat any team who finished above them last season, the manager's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.