The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp scores in City dominant win.
Similar to bad weather swept through the northwest the prior day, Manchester City blew United away at the their home ground. It was a statement three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they consolidated their place at the top of the table.
Successive Defeats for United
This outcome represented consecutive WSL defeats for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.
Manchester United's capability to juggle domestic and continental football with a small squad has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the European competition. Considering the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would truly test this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they appeared fatigued throughout, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.
Tactical Shifts
Marc Skinner had sought to freshen things up with a several changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all brought vigor, although the exclusion of the in-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.
The hosts, in contrast, have no similar loading concerns. Jeglertz made one adjustment from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue.
Commanding Opening Period
The trouble started to build for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose potent forward line controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb first half showing that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.
This placed City in a commanding position and left United all at sea. Prior to this encounter, United had conceded just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of City’s attacking flair.
Early Chances
The omens came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, using the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' wing. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.
The Red Devils had a number of sorties ahead, their direct style giving them options in the flanks but they could not test the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, on the other hand, commanded possession, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their organization.
Scoring Spree
They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A ball to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the campaign.
They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to advance through the center from the back, the pitch widened for City. The prominent Casparij collected the pass on the right side before sending a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick shift in possession saw Hemp allowed the space to fire a effort home from distance.
Final Period
The clearest change came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came most likely to score, striking the post, but the away team were offensively poor and were unable to produce a solitary shot on target.
The hosts, on the other hand, could have increased their advantage when a delightful Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. Having failed to overcome any side who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to position them in a strong standing after nine matches.
