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Just as the recent storm tore through the north-west the night before, the home side blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a statement 3-0 win for their manager's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that clearly signaled their championship potential as they consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United

This result signalled back-to-back league setbacks for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to manage domestic and continental football with a thin roster has been a widely debated subject since they qualified for the UCL. Reviewing the schedule, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the opposition, they seemed weary from start to finish, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a handful of alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought freshness, although the exclusion of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the bench caused surprise.

The hosts, in opposition, have no similar loading worries. The City coach made a single alteration from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from City whose energetic offense manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. In advance of this encounter, United had conceded just a handful in this league campaign but they disintegrated in the presence of the hosts' creative prowess.

Early Chances

The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had several forays forward, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, in the meantime, dominated possession, probing their rivals and trying to draw them out of their structure.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's 7th header of the term.

They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from central defence, the pitch widened for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before delivering a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a third after a swift change in possession saw Hemp afforded the room to drive a effort home from distance.

Final Period

The primary adjustment came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came closest, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to produce a solitary shot on target.

The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Previously unable to beat any team who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.