🔗 Share this article Manchester City Three Goals to Nil The Red Devils: Lauren Hemp scores in Manchester City dominant win. Just as the recent storm tore through the north-west the previous evening, Manchester City swept United away at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three goal win for the City coach's side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their title credentials as they strengthened their standing at the top of the table. Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United This scoreline represented successive league defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented. Manchester United's ability to juggle domestic and continental soccer with a limited team has been a hotly discussed subject since they qualified for the UCL. Considering the calendar, it always appeared this was the period that would fully examine this ability. Sadly for the opposition, they appeared weary all game, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll. Team Changes Marc Skinner had tried to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the exclusion of the on-form Malard to the bench caused surprise. Manchester City, in comparison, have fewer workload issues. Jeglertz made one adjustment from last week’s win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from injury. Overpowering Start The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from Manchester City whose energetic offense played with and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent first half display that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes. This put the hosts in a commanding position and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this encounter, United had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity. Initial Opportunities The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the gap left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an attempt for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line. United had a number of forays ahead, their straightforward approach giving them options in the flanks but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, commanded possession, taunting their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure. Triple Strike They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the campaign. They extended their lead with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to maraud through the center from central defence, the field widened for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the wing before sending a pinpoint low cross for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a swift turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the space to drive a attempt home from outside the box. After the Break The most obvious change came from Skinner at the interval as Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, hitting the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to register a solitary shot on target. The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their lead when a delightful Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it mattered little to the hosts. Previously unable to beat any side who finished above them in the prior term, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a favorable situation after nine matches.