🔗 Share this article Man City Three Goals to Nil The Red Devils: Hemp on target in City dominant win. Just as Storm Claudia tore through the north-west the night before, City blew the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a statement three goal triumph for the City coach's side due to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they strengthened their place at the top of the table. Consecutive Defeats for United This outcome signalled consecutive league losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since May 2024, placing them a sizable gap off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt. The Red Devils' capacity to juggle league and European football with a limited squad has been a hotly discussed issue since they secured entry to the European competition. Reviewing the fixture list, it always felt like this was the period that would seriously challenge this fortitude. Sadly for the opposition, they seemed tired all game, the historic win against the French side clearly having had an impact. Lineup Adjustments Skinner had attempted to freshen things up with a several alterations. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the omission of the high-performing Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned. City, in opposition, have no similar fitness concerns. The City coach made a single alteration from their most recent win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from injury. Dominant First Half The storm clouds started to build for the United boss and his team from the first whistle. This was a show of the strength from Manchester City whose potent forward line controlled and dismantled the opposition with a excellent first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes. This put the hosts firmly in control and left United all at sea. Prior to this fixture, the away side had conceded just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's creative prowess. Early Chances The warning signs came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the room left by Jayde Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were posing a threat and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line. United had a number of attacks ahead, their direct style giving them options in the wide areas but they could not test the City goalkeeper. Manchester City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their organization. Goals Galore They made their pressure count with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A cross to the back post was directed across goal by Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the campaign. They added to their advantage with another pair of goals just before the interval. When Rose was allowed to maraud through the midfield from central defence, the pitch widened for the hosts. The prominent Casparij picked the ball up on the right before delivering a precise low cross for Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a additional score after a rapid shift in the ball saw Hemp given the opportunity to drive a attempt home from outside the box. After the Break The most obvious adjustment came from the United manager at the interval as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was too late to alter the outcome of the contest. Ex- Manchester City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were offensively poor and were unable to register a solitary shot on target. The home side, on the other hand, could have added to their advantage when a delightful Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the winning team. Previously unable to defeat any team who finished above them last season, City's side now have victories against Arsenal and Manchester United to place them in a strong situation after nine games.