Anna Sandberg Man Utd equaliser ends Chelsea 100 per cent start to WSL season

Chelsea dropped their first points of the Women’s Super League season in a 1-1 draw with second-placed Manchester United.

The Red Devils continued their strong start and, although they could not force a first ever WSL victory against Chelsea, they fully merited the point given to them by Anna Sandberg’s first United goal after Wieke Kaptein had put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute.

There was a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off for the victims of Thursday’s attack at the synagogue in Heaton Park, while United’s players wore black armbands.

Boss Marc Skinner said in the build-up that United would look to be brave in attack and his players set their stall out immediately, working the ball from back to front where Ella Toone played in Elisabeth Terland, who perhaps hesitated too long but managed to draw a decent save from Hannah Hampton.

A fine block from Maya Le Tissier denied Catarina Macario at the other end before the influential Toone again created a good chance, this time running at the retreating Chelsea defence before finding Jess Park, who shot when a cross may have been a better option.

It was a surprisingly open game and, after Aggie Beever-Jones had sent a dangerous cross from Carpenter over the bar, Kaptein put Chelsea ahead.

The goal owed much to the ingenuity of Macario, who held up the ball on the edge of the six-yard box before a neat back heel gave Kaptein time and space to slot into the bottom corner.

It was a blow for United after their strong start but they continued to look dangerous and equalised in the 20th minute, Toone nodding down for Sandberg to send a terrific volley across Hampton and into the corner of the net.

Kaptein was denied a second in the 34th minute by a fine reaction save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce but Chelsea were in the unfamiliar position of being second best and Toone might have put the hosts ahead after another good move had she not slipped and sent her shot over the bar.

Storm Amy made its presence felt as the second half began, with heavy rain and swirling wind, but that did not disrupt United’s momentum.

They came agonisingly close to taking the lead – Hampton helpless as Fridolina Rolfo’s shot took a big deflection off Millie Bright before bouncing off the top of the bar.

Bompastor responded by introducing Alyssa Thompson in place of Kaptein and the effect was immediate, with Chelsea managing a spell of sustained pressure, albeit without an end product.

The impressive Park shot just over at the other end, while Bompastor was shown a yellow card for her complaints after a foul went against Macario.

Chances continued to come at both ends, with Beever-Jones seeing a deflected shot drop just wide and substitute Melvine Malard pulling her effort off target.

Tullis-Joyce then scrambled to save a low shot from Keira Walsh after the wet ball slipped out of her grasp, while last-ditch defending denied Guro Reiten as United held on.