Video: United Women suffer derby day blues as City run riot in convincing 3-0 win

Manchester United Women fell to a crushing defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. First half After the high of the thrilling win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, United struggled to get into gear in this contest. City almost opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Vivianne Miedema smashed an effort off of the post. Just a minute later, Anna Sandberg made a terrific block to stop Yui Hasegawa at the back post as City had United on the ropes. On 17 minutes Ella Toone had United’s first real chance but her volley from a corner spun harmlessly wide. City finally had the breakthrough after 26 minutes however. Lauren Hemp curled a wonderful corner into the back post for Khadija Shaw to nod back across goal and Rebecca Knaak was on hand to guide a header into the top corner to give the Citizens the lead. United tried to respond with some nice play just outside the City box but it was the hosts who claimed the vital second goal on 43 minutes. Khadija Shaw nicked in front of United keeper Safia Middleton-Patel to turn Kerstin Casparij’s low cross into the back of the net, to put a huge smile on the home crowd’s faces. United lost their heads for a moment when just before the half-time whistle, they gave the ball away in their own half and Lauren Hemp rifled an effort into the top corner in a clinical display. Marc Skinner’s side went into the half-time break three goals down to their table-topping rivals. Second half Melvine Malard’s introduction brought a bit more zip to the United attack but it was actually Hemp who almost grabbed City’s fourth but her chip from distance just evaded the visitor’s goal. United finally had a serious attack in the 71st minute when former City player Jess Park got free but her long-range effort struck the post. It took United to added time to register a shot on target when Maya Le Tissier’s header was cleared from goal by Jade Rose on her own goal line. Hannah Blundell also had a late chance from a corner to grab a consolation but her finishing let her down. United lost the encounter 0-3 and fell seven points behind leaders City at the top of the table. United will have to recover quickly as they have the daunting task of facing Wolfsburg away in the Champions League on Wednesday. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.