🔗 Share this article Manchester City Three Goals to Nil Manchester United: Hemp scores in Manchester City dominant win. Much like the recent storm swept through the northwest the prior day, Manchester City blew United aside at the their home ground. It was a emphatic three goal triumph for the City coach's side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their leadership claims as they consolidated their place at the top of the table. Back-to-Back Setbacks for United This result represented back-to-back Women's Super League losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the initial occasion since May 2024, putting them a sizable gap off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt. The Red Devils' ability to manage domestic and European football with a limited team has been a hotly discussed subject since they earned a place in the Champions League. Looking at the calendar, it always seemed this was the week that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the opposition, they seemed tired throughout, the memorable win against the French side clearly having taken a toll. Tactical Shifts Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a handful of adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the bench was questioned. City, in contrast, have no similar workload worries. The City coach made one adjustment from last week’s win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since healing from a physical setback. Dominant First Half The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the quality from Manchester City whose dynamic forward line controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime first half performance that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes. This placed City completely dominant and saw the visitors struggling. Prior to this encounter, the away side had conceded just a handful in this domestic competition but they fell apart in the wake of Manchester City's attacking flair. Opening Threats The warning signs came quickly when Miedema used her strength to muscle Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, exploiting the space left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her crosses were causing problems and led to an chance for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line. The Red Devils had multiple forays forwards, their direct style giving them alternatives in the wings but they could not trouble the City goalkeeper. City, in the meantime, controlled the ball, taunting their opposition and trying to draw them out of their structure. Triple Strike They turned chances into goals with almost thirty minutes played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was City’s seventh goal from a cross of the season. They increased their cushion with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the middle from central defence, the play opened up for the hosts. The influential Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the wing before sending a pinpoint ground pass for Bunny Shaw to force home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a rapid change in possession saw Hemp afforded the room to strike a effort home from outside the box. After the Break The clearest change came from the United manager at the interval as Malard entered for Terland but by this time it was futile to shift the momentum of the contest. Former Manchester City player Park came nearest, striking the upright, but the visitors were offensively poor and failed to produce a one shot on goal. The home side, in contrast, could have added to their cushion when a excellent Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who placed above them the previous campaign, the manager's side now have successes against the Gunners and United to place them in a favorable standing after nine matches.