🔗 Share this article

Just as Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City swept United aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic three goal win for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their championship potential as they strengthened their place at the top of the table.

Successive Setbacks for United

This result signalled consecutive Women's Super League defeats for the United manager's side for the first time since spring 2024, placing them a sizable gap off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

The Red Devils' capability to juggle domestic and European football with a small team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Considering the schedule, it always felt like this was the week that would seriously challenge this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they looked fatigued all game, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a a few alterations. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added vigor, although the omission of the in-form Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

The hosts, in contrast, have no such fitness worries. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since healing from a fitness issue.

Dominant First Half

The trouble started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the kickoff. This was a demonstration of the strength from City whose energetic offense manipulated and tore United open with a superb opening period performance that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts firmly in control and left United struggling. Prior to this match, the away side had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Early Chances

The early indicators came early when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot past the post. Hemp was at the core of everything from the start, taking advantage of the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were creating danger and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

United had multiple sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, on the other hand, controlled possession, teasing their opposition and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th header of the campaign.

They extended their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Rose was able to drive through the middle from the back, the pitch became spacious for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right before sending a pinpoint driven ball for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in possession saw Hemp afforded the opportunity to drive a attempt home from outside the box.

Final Period

The clearest change came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the game. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, striking the woodwork, but the visitors were creatively abject and were unable to produce a single shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a excellent Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any side who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong position after nine games.