🔗 Share this article Manchester City Three Goals to Nil The Red Devils: Hemp scores in Manchester City dominant win. Similar to Storm Claudia swept through the northern region the prior day, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three goal triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the WSL pinnacle. Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United This result represented consecutive WSL defeats for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented. The Red Devils' capability to balance league and European soccer with a thin roster has been a widely debated issue since they earned a place in the European competition. Considering the fixture list, it always seemed this was the week that would truly test this ability. Unfortunately for the visitors, they looked tired throughout, the landmark win against PSG clearly having taken a toll. Team Changes Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added freshness, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned. City, in opposition, have fewer loading concerns. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from injury. Commanding Opening Period The pressure started to accumulate for Skinner and his squad from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the quality from City whose dynamic forward line controlled and tore United open with a superb opening period performance that saw them net a trio in 21 minutes. This put the hosts firmly in control and saw the visitors disorganized. Prior to this fixture, the away side had conceded just six in this WSL season but they fell apart in the face of City’s creative prowess. Initial Opportunities The omens came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line. The Red Devils had several sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them options in the wings but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, dominated the ball, teasing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape. Scoring Spree They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the campaign. They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the break. When Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from defense, the play opened up for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a precise driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a rapid shift in possession saw Hemp allowed the room to strike a effort home from distance. After the Break The clearest adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the visitors were offensively poor and failed to record a single shot on goal. The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to overcome any team who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.