The Citizens Three-Nil The Red Devils: Hemp scores in City dominant win.
Much like the recent storm tore through the north-west the prior day, the home side blew United away at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their title credentials as they strengthened their standing at the WSL pinnacle.
Successive Setbacks for Manchester United
This outcome represented successive WSL setbacks for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.
The Red Devils' capacity to juggle domestic and European soccer with a thin team has been a widely debated subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Considering the fixture list, it always felt like this was the matchday that would seriously challenge this capability. Regrettably for the away side, they looked weary from start to finish, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.
Lineup Adjustments
The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a a few changes. Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the dropping of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.
The hosts, in opposition, have no similar fitness worries. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from a physical setback.
Dominant First Half
The storm clouds started to gather for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic forward line manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a excellent initial 45 minutes performance that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.
This put the hosts in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. Before this encounter, the away side had let in just a handful in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the face of City’s attacking flair.
Opening Threats
The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.
United had several sorties forward, their direct style giving them choices in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, teasing their rivals and trying to lure them of their structure.
Goals Galore
They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the campaign.
They added to their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the center from defense, the pitch opened up for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before sending a precise ground pass for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third after a quick turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to fire a effort home from distance.
After the Break
The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to alter the outcome of the contest. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, hitting the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to register a one shot on goal.
The home side, meanwhile, could have increased their lead when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any team who finished above them last season, City's side now have successes against Arsenal and Manchester United to put them in a strong position after the opening fixtures.
