'Brave' Man Utd make 'statement' in Chelsea draw

It was a "statement" performance, but Manchester United were still near wanting much than nan constituent they took from a broadside that has won nan past six Women's Super League titles.

United ended Chelsea's 100% start to nan caller play arsenic Anna Sandberg's sublime volley cancelled retired Wieke Kaptein's exquisite opener.

It was a important consequence for nan Red Devils, who had mislaid 10 and drawn 1 of their 11 erstwhile convention encounters pinch nan Blues.

Yet leader Marc Skinner was "disappointed" United came distant pinch 1 alternatively than each 3 points arsenic they extended their unbeaten tally to 5 games.

Ella Toone wasted chances either broadside of nan interval, while Jess Park should person done amended pinch a chipped effort, earlier coming adjacent pinch a dipping volley.

"I felt for illustration Manchester United will astir apt beryllium kicking themselves," ex-England midfielder Fara Williams told BBC Three.

"They created a batch of bully chances and possibly if they had amended composure successful their last 3rd to execute, they would person travel retired connected top."

However, United could person conscionable arsenic easy walked distant pinch nothing.

Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a superb precocious prevention to contradict Chelsea's Keira Walsh, while some defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg put their bodies connected nan statement successful nan closing stages to support nan Blues astatine bay.

"They're nan first squad to return points disconnected Chelsea this season," erstwhile England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis added connected BBC Three.

"If they request to put retired a connection to their ain nine and reaffirm what Manchester United's ambition is, they've earned each spot of that."

The large mobility astatine nan commencement of this play - nan aforesaid 1 that's been asked complete nan past six WSL campaigns - is whether anyone tin extremity Chelsea's dominance.

The Blues won past term's trophy by going 22 games unbeaten successful Sonia Bompastor's first play astatine nan helm - portion of a home treble arsenic they lifted nan Women's FA Cup and League Cup too.

In fact, it's been much than 500 days since Chelsea past mislaid a convention crippled - a 4-3 conclusion astatine Liverpool connected 1 May, 2024.

Manchester United came adjacent to ending that streak connected Friday nighttime successful a top-two brushwood and Skinner was proud of "the astir brave performance" from his players.

"We're building. You tin spot it, you tin consciousness it," he said.

"We are disappointed to not triumph nan game. The chances we created, not galore teams could create that against Chelsea. So for america to do that and successful nan measurement we did it was in installments to them [the players]."

Since their promotion from nan Women's Championship successful 2019, United person quickly emerged arsenic WSL title contenders, finishing conscionable 2 points down Chelsea successful 2022-23.

The pursuing play they won nan FA Cup - their first awesome women's trophy.

While a tie against nan existent convention leaders whitethorn beryllium deemed a missed opportunity for United, erstwhile England striker White believed it showed really acold nan nine has come.

"You person to look astatine that consistency," she said. "They've played 11 times against Chelsea now and only drawn once, now nan 2nd time, truthful I deliberation it's really bully for their consistency and what they're doing arsenic a nine and a team.

"It shows it's moving and they're improving."

Asked if Skinner deserved much in installments for United's emergence to compete pinch much established clubs, White added: "What he's done pinch these players, nan philosophy, nan DNA, really resolute they are.

"He hasn't sewage nan magnitude of money aliases been capable to walk nan magnitude of money nan likes of Chelsea, Arsenal aliases [Manchester] City person done."

Chelsea's cleanable commencement whitethorn person ended, but they still stay apical connected 13 points - 2 points clear of United.

But Skinner said his side's show astatine nan Progress With Unity Stadium - wherever Chelsea clinched past season's title - proved nan Blues won't person it rather arsenic easy this clip around.

"It shows to Chelsea they're not conscionable going to locomotion nan league," he added.

"We request to make judge everyone is putting a situation in. I deliberation nan convention is getting amended and you saw nan quality, that we are progressing too."

Blues leader Bompastor was "not happy" pinch Chelsea's performance, but said a tie was "not a bad consequence astatine Manchester United".

Asked if United were title challengers, she added: "I spot galore teams being existent title for us, each crippled brings a different challenge. You person to beryllium fresh for each game."

Manchester City, who mislaid to Chelsea successful nan play opener, could adjacent nan spread connected nan leaders to 1 constituent if they hit Arsenal astatine location connected Saturday (12:00 BST).

Last season's runners-up Arsenal, meanwhile, person crushed to dress up aft dropping points against some United and Aston Villa, and leader Renee Slegers will beryllium eyeing nan Gunners' location crippled against Chelsea connected 8 November arsenic a measurement to get themselves backmost successful contention.