Manchester United Women showed their title credentials in an impressive 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
First half
United began with purpose and Ella Toone played in Elisabeth Terland, whose effort was well stopped by Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton.
After five minutes, it was Chelsea’s turn to go on the attack. The Red Devils failed to deal with a cross from the left by Sandy Baltimore, but Maya Le Tissier made an outstanding block to deny Catarina Macario a certain goal.
United and Marc Skinner would have been delighted with their start but Chelsea did what the champions so often do and scored in sucker punch moment.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd played a pass into the box, where Catarina Macario held up the ball before releasing Wieke Kaptein, who slid the ball into the net to give the champions the lead.
This United team is made of strong stuff however and they roared back when others would have folded.
Anna Sandberg has been in fine form this season so far and she will always remember last night as she bagged her first goal for the Red Devils.
Ella Toone nodded the ball across goal and Sandberg arrowed in a truly stunning volley to drag her side level after just 20 minutes of exhilarating action.
United pressed and harried Chelsea and made life uncomfortable but it was Phallon Tullis-Joyce who kept the scores level just before half-time.
Kaptein met a cross first time but the American keeper stopped the ball with a strong hand to keep her side level entering the second half.
Second half
It was a wonderful effort from United but they knew they would have to match this energy to get a result against a team as tough as Chelsea.
In a fast start, Fridolina Rolfo laid the ball back for Toone but she fired way over when she would have been desperate to at least hit the target.
On 50 minutes, Rolfo almost gave United a deserved lead when her shot clipped Millie Bright but it hit the top of the crossbar instead of settling into the net.
Both sides had spells without really threatening before Aggie Beever-Jones’ shot looped just narrowly wide of Tullis-Joyce’s goal.
United responded immediately and substitute Melvine Malard fired wide after being played in on goal from Rolfo.
Just before full time, Tullis-Joyce made an uncharacteristic error, spilling a shot to Keira Walsh who guided the ball towards the bottom right corner but the American keeper got down to make a smart low stop.
The Red Devils held on for an impressive draw and will have been disappointed not to grab the win. A sign of their progress lately.
United remain two points below Chelsea in the league and they will face Valerenga on Wednesday night in their first ever Champions League proper tie.
Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
