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Much like bad weather swept through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing three goal win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they reinforced their place at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Losses for United

This result represented successive league setbacks for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since May 2024, putting them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' ability to juggle league and continental football with a limited squad has been a frequently analyzed topic since they secured entry to the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always seemed this was the matchday that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the visitors, they seemed fatigued all game, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Team Changes

The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

City, in contrast, have fewer loading concerns. Jeglertz made one change from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her first start since healing from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from City whose potent attack played with and dismantled the opposition with a excellent first half performance that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City firmly in control and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the face of City’s creative prowess.

Early Chances

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her strength to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, exploiting the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

United had a number of attacks forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They converted their dominance with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the far post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th header of the campaign.

They increased their lead with an additional two goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to drive through the midfield from the back, the pitch widened for City. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before sending a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to strike a shot home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the match. Former City player Jess Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and did not manage to record a single shot on target.

The home side, in contrast, could have added to their cushion when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. After failing to defeat any opponent who placed above them last season, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and United to place them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.