🔗 Share this article Man City 3-0 Man United: Hemp on target in City comfortable victory. Just as the recent storm swept through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City overwhelmed Manchester United away at the Etihad Stadium. It was a statement 3-0 triumph for their manager's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the top of the table. Consecutive Setbacks for United This outcome marked successive WSL defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since spring 2024, placing them a significant margin off the table toppers with their trophy ambitions severely dented. United’s ability to juggle league and European football with a limited roster has been a widely debated subject since they secured entry to the UCL. Reviewing the calendar, it always seemed this was the period that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the visitors, they looked fatigued all game, the memorable win against PSG clearly having left its mark. Tactical Shifts The United manager had sought to freshen things up with a a few changes. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines was questioned. Manchester City, in contrast, have no such fitness concerns. Jeglertz made one change from the previous win over Everton with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a fitness issue. Overpowering Start The trouble started to gather for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose energetic offense controlled and dismantled the opposition with a sublime initial 45 minutes showing that saw them put three past the keeper in under half an hour. This placed City completely dominant and had Manchester United struggling. Prior to this match, the away side had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the presence of the hosts' offensive ingenuity. Initial Opportunities The early indicators came quickly when Vivianne Miedema used her strength to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything early on, taking advantage of the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line. United had a number of sorties ahead, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not trouble Yamashita. City, meanwhile, dominated possession, taunting their opposition and trying to pull them out of their defensive shape. Scoring Spree 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 nodded across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was Manchester City's seventh header of the term. They increased their cushion with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the middle from the back, the pitch became spacious for City. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the right side before sending a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third after a quick shift in the ball saw Hemp given the space to strike a attempt home from outside the box. After the Break The clearest change came from Skinner at the half-time as Melvine Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to shift the momentum of the contest. Ex- Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, hitting the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to register a single shot on goal. The home side, in contrast, could have added to their cushion when a superb Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it did not affect the result to the hosts. After failing to overcome any side who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a strong situation after the opening fixtures.