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Just as Storm Claudia swept through the northwest the previous evening, the home side swept the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a statement 3-0 win for their manager's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their title credentials as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Back-to-Back Losses for United

This result marked consecutive WSL losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, putting them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented.

United’s ability to manage league and European soccer with a small team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always seemed this was the week that would truly test this ability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed tired all game, the historic win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

Skinner had attempted to make changes with a handful of alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the exclusion of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in comparison, have no such fitness worries. The City coach made one change from their most recent win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The pressure started to gather for Skinner and his team from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose energetic offense played with and tore United open with a sublime first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City completely dominant and left United all at sea. Prior to this fixture, United had let in just few in this domestic competition but they disintegrated in the face of City’s attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The warning signs came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, exploiting the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had a number of sorties forward, their straightforward approach giving them options in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, meanwhile, controlled the ball, taunting their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They made their pressure count with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the far post was nodded across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the season.

They increased their lead with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the center from the back, the pitch widened for City. The prominent Casparij received possession on the right before providing a precise driven ball for Bunny Shaw to force home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp afforded the space to drive a attempt home from range.

Final Period

The clearest substitution came from the United manager at the half-time as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the contest. Former City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the upright, but the visitors were offensively poor and did not manage to produce a one shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their cushion when a excellent Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. After failing to overcome any team who finished above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to put them in a commanding situation after nine matches.