🔗 Share this article

The Red Devils produced what many are calling a "statement" performance against defending champions Chelsea, though the team were feeling wanting for rather than the single point secured from the match.

Manchester United successfully end Chelsea's perfect beginning to the new campaign as their defender's superb strike cancelled out the Chelsea player's exquisite opener.

The draw represented a significant outcome for the Red Devils, who had previously been defeated in 10 and tied just one of their prior 11 league encounters with the Blues.

Yet, manager Marc Skinner expressed "frustration" that his side came away with only a draw rather than all three points as they extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

During the match, Ella Toone missed chances on either side of the interval, while teammate Jess Park could have done better with a chipped effort before coming close with a powerful shot.

Ex- England player Fara Williams stated: "I felt like Manchester United will probably be regretting missed opportunities. They created numerous good chances and perhaps with improved composure in the final third, they could have secured victory."

Nevertheless, Manchester United might have just as readily walked away with no points from the match.

Shot-stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a superb late save to deny Chelsea's Keira Walsh, while both defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg put their bodies on the line during the final minutes to prevent the Blues from scoring.

Former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis added: "United are the initial team to take points off Chelsea this season. If they need to issue a message to their own club and confirm what Manchester United's ambition is, they've deserved every bit of that."

Draw Shows Progress of Growing Manchester United

This major question at the start of this season - the same one that's been posed over the previous six WSL campaigns - is if anyone can stop Chelsea's dominance.

Chelsea secured last term's trophy by remaining twenty-two games unbeaten in Sonia Bompastor's debut season as manager - contributing to a three trophies as they won the Women's FA Cup and League Cup too.

Actually, it's been more than 500 days since Chelsea last lost a league game - a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool on May 1st, 2024.

Manchester United narrowly missed to ending that run on Friday night in a top-two encounter and Skinner was impressed of "the most brave performance" from his players.

Skinner commented: "We are building. You can see it, you can feel it. We are frustrated to not win the game. The chances we created, few teams could produce that against Chelsea. So for us to do that and in the way we did it was praise to them [the players]."

Since their elevation from the Women's Championship in 2019, United have quickly developed as WSL title challengers, ending up just two points behind Chelsea in the 2022-23 season.

The following season they won the FA Cup - their inaugural major women's trophy.

Although a draw against the present league frontrunners may be deemed a chance not taken for United, ex- England striker White believed it showed how far the club has progressed.

The pundit noted: "One must look at that steady performance. They've played eleven times against Chelsea to date and only drawn one time, currently the second, so I think it's truly positive for their reliability and what they're achieving as a organization and a squad. It shows it's working and they're getting better."

Asked if Skinner earned more recognition for United's ascent to challenge with more traditional clubs, the expert continued: "What he's done with these individuals, the philosophy, the DNA, how resolute they are. He does not have the quantity of money or managed to spend the sum of money the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or [Manchester] City have achieved."

How Will This Affect the Championship Battle?

Chelsea's perfect start may have ended, but they still remain in first place on thirteen points - two points clear of United.

But Skinner said his team's display at the Progress With Unity Stadium - where Chelsea secured last season's title - proved the Blues will not have it quite as easy this time around.

The manager added: "This proves to Chelsea they're not just going to run away with the league. We must ensure everyone is putting a challenge. I think the league is improving and you saw the standard, that we are advancing too."

Blues boss Bompastor was "not happy" with Chelsea's performance, but stated a draw was "not a bad result at Manchester United".

Asked if United were title contenders, she responded: "I see many teams being genuine competition for us, each game presents a different challenge. You have to be ready for each game."

City, who lost to Chelsea in the season opener, might close the difference on the frontrunners to a single point if they beat Arsenal at home on Saturday.

Last season's second-place Arsenal, in the meantime, have ground to make up after losing points against each of United and Aston Villa, and boss Renee Slegers will be eyeing the Gunners' home game against Chelsea on 8 November as a way to get themselves back in contention.