The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Man United: Lauren Hemp on target in Manchester City comfortable victory.
Much like Storm Claudia tore through the north-west the night before, City blew Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for their manager's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the top of the table.
Back-to-Back Defeats for Manchester United
This outcome signalled successive league setbacks for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them seven points off the league leaders with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread.
United’s capability to manage domestic and continental soccer with a limited squad has been a frequently analyzed topic since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always felt like this was the period that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they appeared tired throughout, the memorable win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.
Team Changes
The United manager had tried to make changes with a a few changes. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.
City, in comparison, have fewer loading issues. The City coach made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her first start since returning from a physical setback.
Commanding Opening Period
The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his team from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose dynamic forward line manipulated and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime 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 disorganized. Before this encounter, United had let in just six in this WSL season but they collapsed in the wake of the hosts' offensive ingenuity.
Opening Threats
The warning signs came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her power to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, exploiting the room left by Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.
The Red Devils had multiple attacks ahead, their direct style giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated possession, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their structure.
Goals Galore
They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A cross to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's seventh goal from a cross of the term.
They extended their lead with two more goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the middle from the back, the play opened up for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the wing before sending a precise driven ball for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to fire a effort home from outside the box.
Final Period
The most obvious change came from the United manager at the interval as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, hitting the post, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to produce a single shot on target.
The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a delightful Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to defeat any team who placed above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong position after nine games.
