The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp scores in City dominant win.
Just as Storm Claudia swept through the northern region the night before, Manchester City swept the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a emphatic 3-0 triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they consolidated their position at the league summit.
Back-to-Back Setbacks for United
This result marked back-to-back Women's Super League losses for the United manager's side for the maiden instance since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the top team with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.
Manchester United's capability to juggle league and continental soccer with a small roster has been a widely debated issue since they qualified for the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the matchday that would fully examine this fortitude. Unfortunately for the away side, they appeared fatigued all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll.
Tactical Shifts
Marc Skinner had tried to freshen things up with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all brought freshness, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the sidelines was questioned.
The hosts, in contrast, have no such loading concerns. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from injury.
Commanding Opening Period
The trouble started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the opening minute. This was a demonstration of the strength from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and tore United open with a superb opening period performance that saw them net a trio in under half an hour.
This put the hosts in a commanding position and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this fixture, the away side had let in just a handful in this WSL season but they collapsed in the wake of City’s offensive ingenuity.
Opening Threats
The warning signs came early when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the room left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.
The Red Devils had a number of forays forward, their direct style giving them choices in the flanks but they could not challenge Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, dominated possession, taunting their opponents and trying to draw them out of their structure.
Goals Galore
They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A cross to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the term.
They increased their advantage with an additional two goals just before the half-time. When Rose was able to maraud through the midfield from central defence, the play became spacious for City. The prominent Casparij collected the pass on the right before providing a precise driven ball for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a rapid change in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the space to drive a attempt home from distance.
After the Break
The most obvious change came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- City player Park came most likely to score, striking the post, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to record a single shot on goal.
The hosts, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any side who ended above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have wins against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong standing after nine games.
