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Much like Storm Claudia hit the northwest the night before, the home side overwhelmed the visitors away at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 win for the City coach's side due to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that clearly signaled their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Back-to-Back Losses for Manchester United

This outcome marked back-to-back league losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

The Red Devils' capability to balance domestic and continental soccer with a thin squad has been a frequently analyzed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the fixture list, it always seemed this was the week that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Unfortunately for the away side, they seemed tired throughout, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having had an impact.

Team Changes

The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a several adjustments. Ella Toone, Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the substitutes raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no such fitness worries. The City coach made one adjustment from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury.

Dominant First Half

The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the power from Manchester City whose dynamic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a superb first half showing that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and left United struggling. Before this match, United had let in just few in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the wake of the hosts' attacking flair.

Early Chances

The omens came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the gap left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of forays forward, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not test Yamashita. City, meanwhile, controlled possession, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A ball to the far post was headed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the season.

They added to their cushion with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was able to advance through the midfield from central defence, the field became spacious for City. The key Casparij picked the ball up on the right side before providing a precise low cross for Shaw to tap home. A short time later, they had a third goal after a quick turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the opportunity to drive a effort home from range.

Second Half

The primary adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Ex- City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the post, but the away team were creatively abject and failed to produce a single shot on goal.

The home side, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a superb Miedema pass sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it was insignificant to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any side who finished above them last season, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a commanding standing after the opening fixtures.