Lauren Hemp’s stunning strike on the stroke of half-time sealed a thumping 3-0 derby victory for Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Hemp crashed a long-range effort into the top corner to add to earlier efforts from Rebecca Knaak and Khadija Shaw, as Marc Skinner’s visitors were brought crashing back to earth after their midweek Champions league win over Paris St Germain.
Ella Toone and Melvine Malard made United more competitive after the break but the result was all but a formality as City cruised to a win that extends their lead at the top of the table to four points.
City had come out firing from the start, Hemp coming close to grabbing the opener in the first minute when she met Aoba Fujino’s cross, only to see her shot blocked by United full-back Jayde Riviere.
Riviere was left exposed in the early stages as the hosts poured forward, Hemp turning provider for Yui Hasegawa, whose goal-bound effort was blocked on the line by Anna Sandberg.
In a high-octane start, United almost grabbed the lead against the run of play when Riviere was left free to deliver a low cross that almost found Leah Galton lurking in front of goal.
But City’s dominance finally paid dividends in the 26th minute when Kemp’s corner was knocked back across the box by Shaw towards Knaak, who could hardly miss as she belted the opener into the top corner.
Toone was working overtime to drag United back into the game but City had the fresher legs and made it two, two minutes before the break when Shaw beat United goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel to knock in Kerstin Casparij’s cross from the right.
And it would get worse for United before the break as they spurned possession in their own half and allowed Hemp space to lash in the third from the left flank.
United acquitted themselves better in a low-key second half, Jess Park lashing a 71st-minute effort against the outside of the post before Maya Le Tissier was denied a consolation in injury time when Jade Rose headed clear after a goalmouth scramble.
