🔗 Share this article The Citizens Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp finds the net in City stroll. Much like Storm Claudia swept through the north-west the night before, Manchester City swept Manchester United away at the their home ground. It was a statement three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their leadership claims as they reinforced their standing at the WSL pinnacle. Consecutive Setbacks for Manchester United This outcome marked successive WSL defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since spring 2024, putting them a sizable gap off the top team with their championship aspirations hanging by a thread. United’s ability to juggle domestic and European football with a limited team has been a widely debated subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Reviewing the fixture list, it always appeared this was the week that would truly test this ability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they looked weary throughout, the landmark win against PSG clearly having taken a toll. Lineup Adjustments Marc Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a handful of alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought freshness, although the dropping of the in-form Malard to the substitutes was questioned. The hosts, in contrast, have no such loading worries. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since healing from a physical setback. Dominant First Half The pressure started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent attack controlled and dismantled the opposition with a sublime first half performance that saw them score three goals in 21 minutes. This placed City in a commanding position and saw the visitors all at sea. Prior to this encounter, United had let in just a handful in this league campaign but they collapsed in the face of the hosts' attacking flair. Early Chances The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her power to push Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Hemp was at the center of everything early on, using the space left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg scrambled off the line. United had multiple sorties forwards, their straightforward approach giving them alternatives in the wide areas but they could not challenge Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, dominated possession, teasing their opposition and trying to lure them of their defensive shape. Scoring Spree They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A cross to the far post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh header of the season. They added to their advantage with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was permitted to drive through the midfield from the back, the play widened for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right side before providing a accurate driven ball for Shaw to tap home. Shortly later, they had a third after a rapid turnover in possession saw Lauren Hemp given the space to fire a shot home from range. Second Half The primary substitution came from Skinner at the interval as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former City player Park came nearest, striking the upright, but the away team were creatively abject and failed to record a solitary shot on goal. The hosts, in contrast, could have added to their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any side who ended above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and United to put them in a commanding standing after nine games.