🔗 Share this article Man City Three-Nil The Red Devils: Hemp on target in City stroll. Similar to bad weather swept through the northwest the previous evening, Manchester City blew Manchester United aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three goal triumph for their manager's side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the league summit. Consecutive Defeats for United This scoreline marked consecutive Women's Super League defeats for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their title hopes severely dented. United’s capacity to manage domestic and continental soccer with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the week that would truly test this capability. Sadly for the away side, they appeared fatigued from start to finish, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark. Lineup Adjustments Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a several adjustments. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the high-performing Malard to the bench caused surprise. The hosts, in contrast, have fewer fitness worries. The City coach made one adjustment from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a fitness issue. Dominant First Half The trouble started to gather for the United boss and his team from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the quality from City whose potent offense played with and dismantled the opposition with a excellent first half showing that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes. This left the home team firmly in control and left United struggling. Prior to this match, the away side had conceded just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity. Opening Threats The omens came early when Miedema used her strength to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything from the start, taking advantage of the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her crosses were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line. The Red Devils had several forays ahead, their direct style giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, controlled possession, probing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure. Triple Strike They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the season. They increased their lead with another pair of goals just before the half-time. When Jade Rose was allowed to drive through the center from central defence, the field opened up for City. The influential Casparij received possession on the right side before providing a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a quick turnover in possession saw Hemp allowed the room to drive a shot home from range. Second Half The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard came on for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were lacking in ideas and were unable to record a one shot on goal. The hosts, meanwhile, could have increased their cushion when a delightful Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to defeat any opponent who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a favorable position after the opening fixtures.