🔗 Share this article Man City Three-Nil The Red Devils: Lauren Hemp scores in City comfortable victory. Much like the recent storm swept through the northwest the previous evening, City blew Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement three-nil win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their championship potential as they reinforced their standing at the WSL pinnacle. Successive Defeats for Manchester United This outcome signalled back-to-back WSL losses for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since May 2024, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt. United’s capability to balance league and continental soccer with a small roster has been a hotly discussed issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Regrettably for the opposition, they appeared tired all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll. Team Changes Skinner had sought to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows. City, in comparison, have no such fitness worries. Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since returning from a physical setback. Commanding Opening Period The trouble started to build for Skinner and his side from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the quality from City whose dynamic forward line controlled and dismantled the opposition with a sublime opening period display that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes. This placed City firmly in control and saw the visitors disorganized. Before this match, the away side had allowed just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the face of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity. Opening Threats The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, exploiting the room left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line. United had several sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, controlled possession, teasing their opponents and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape. Goals Galore They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the term. They added to their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was able to advance through the center from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before delivering a accurate ground pass for Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a swift turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the room to strike a attempt home from outside the box. Final Period The most obvious adjustment came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the contest. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a solitary shot on goal. The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any side who ended above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong standing after the opening fixtures.