Manchester City Three-Nil The Red Devils: Hemp scores in Manchester City comfortable victory.
Just as the recent storm swept through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City swept the visitors away at the Etihad. It was a convincing three goal triumph for Andrée Jeglertz’s side owing to goals from Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a performance that truly announced their championship potential as they reinforced their standing at the top of the table.
Successive Defeats for Manchester United
This result signalled successive WSL losses for the United manager's side for the first time since last May, leaving them a significant margin off the league leaders with their title hopes in serious doubt.
The Red Devils' capability to manage domestic and European football with a thin team has been a frequently analyzed subject since they earned a place in the UCL. Looking at the calendar, it always appeared this was the matchday that would truly test this ability. Unfortunately for the opposition, they appeared tired from start to finish, the memorable win against PSG clearly having left its mark.
Lineup Adjustments
The United manager had sought to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Galton all provided energy, although the dropping of the in-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.
Manchester City, in contrast, have no similar fitness worries. The City coach made one change from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since returning from injury.
Commanding Opening Period
The storm clouds started to accumulate for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose dynamic attack controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent opening period showing that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.
This put the hosts firmly in control and left United all at sea. Before this match, the away side had let in just six in this WSL season but they collapsed in the wake of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.
Initial Opportunities
The omens came early when Miedema used her physicality to bundle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Hemp was at the center of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down United’s right flank. Her passes were causing problems and led to an opportunity for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.
The Red Devils had multiple forays forward, their direct style giving them options in the flanks but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. City, on the other hand, controlled possession, teasing their rivals and trying to lure them of their defensive shape.
Triple Strike
They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th goal from a cross of the term.
They extended their lead with two more goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to maraud through the middle from the back, the pitch opened up for the hosts. The key Kerstin Casparij collected the pass on the right side before delivering a accurate low cross for Bunny Shaw to tap home. Four minutes later, they had a third goal after a quick change in the ball saw Hemp afforded the room to fire a effort home from outside the box.
After the Break
The primary substitution came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the visitors were lacking in ideas and failed to record a single shot on goal.
The home side, meanwhile, could have extended their cushion when a superb Vivianne Miedema through ball sent Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Previously unable to overcome any opponent who ended above them last season, the manager's side now have victories against the Gunners and Manchester United to position them in a commanding situation after nine games.
