🔗 Share this article The Citizens Three-Nil Man United: Lauren Hemp finds the net in Manchester City dominant win. Just as Storm Claudia hit the northern region the previous evening, Manchester City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing three goal win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their leadership claims as they reinforced their place at the league summit. Successive Losses for United This scoreline marked back-to-back Women's Super League losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations severely dented. The Red Devils' capability to juggle domestic and European soccer with a thin squad has been a hotly discussed subject since they qualified for the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the opposition, they seemed weary throughout, the landmark win against PSG clearly having taken a toll. Tactical Shifts Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a handful of changes. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all provided vigor, although the exclusion of the high-performing Malard to the bench was questioned. The hosts, in comparison, have no such loading worries. Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since returning from a physical setback. Dominant First Half The pressure started to accumulate for Skinner and his squad from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose energetic forward line manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a excellent first half performance that saw them net a trio in under half an hour. This left the home team in a commanding position and left United all at sea. In advance of this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they fell apart in the wake of City’s attacking flair. Initial Opportunities The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her passes were creating danger and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line. The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them options in the wings but they could not test the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, dominated the ball, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape. Triple Strike They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the campaign. They increased their lead with two more goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the midfield from the back, the play became spacious for the hosts. The key Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a accurate ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the room to strike a shot home from range. Final Period The primary substitution came from the United manager at the break as Malard was introduced for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Former City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the woodwork, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to record a one shot on target. The hosts, on the other hand, could have extended their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to defeat any opponent who placed above them the previous campaign, City's side now have wins against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.