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The Blues and Manchester United both kept their unbeaten beginnings to the Women’s Super League season, although the defending champions' 100% winning streak was stopped by an thrilling match between the top two.

This outcome extended United's frustratingly long wait for a first WSL victory over Chelsea but they can take significant encouragement from their display, on a night when both teams created plenty of opportunities to win and the home side showed they could very well have the attributes to mount a serious title challenge.

Fast-Paced Start Features Quick Scores

For a game played between the teams with the top two defence statistics in the WSL previous season, and which had conceded the least goals so far this campaign before kick-off, the game began in a unexpectedly open fashion as each attacked early on.

The contest opened at such a rapid pace that it might well have been 2-2 within the first six minutes, with Hannah Hampton saving with her feet from Elisabeth Terland, Catarina Macario's shot being deflected by Le Tissier, Park shooting narrowly over the bar and then Aggie Beever‑Jones doing the same when she looked likely to score.

Chelsea did then provide the goal the initial flurry of offensive moves had threatened, as Wieke Kaptein met Catarina Macario's clever back-heeled pass and slotted in a precise, deadly finish low into the corner, as the hosts let in a WSL score for only the second time this term.

Sandberg's Spectacular Equaliser

Manchester United had lost 10 of their previous 11 Women's Super League fixtures with the Blues, but this assured version of Marc Skinner's side were unwilling to surrender.

Inspired by the dribbling of Park, who seemed intent to skip her way past as numerous defenders as possible and was the driving force of her side's adventurous play, they continued to create chances and they were quickly level when Anna Sandberg scored her maiden strike for the team.

She could hardly have caught her shot any sweeter, positioning her boot perfectly over the sphere to arrow a half-volley powerfully beyond Hampton from only beyond the box.

Respectful Occasion During Bad Weather

This fixture was staged during Storm Amy, which produced driving rain and strong bursts of wind, and commenced with a minute’s reflection after the terrorist attack on a place of worship in Manchester on the previous day, with the hosts also sporting black armbands as a sign of tribute.

Additionally, the two sides joined together in a circle before the game to oppose racism at the start of this important period, in a time when the Peterborough United player Kira Rai suffered racist abuse.

England national team and Tottenham Hotspur forward Jessica Naz was the target of racism on the internet nine days previously.

Stronger United Challenge Chelsea

The match took place at the ground where the Blues secured last season’s title, with a 1-0 win in a game that had been fairly balanced.

This looks like a significantly better Manchester United squad since then, however, and they continued to pose a danger in the second half, with Rolfö's deflected effort looping on to the upper part of the bar before Park's swerving attempt soared narrowly over.

Melvine Malard, on as a substitute, dragged a low shot off target with over twenty minutes remaining.

Closing Drama Results in Division of Spoils

Skinner had stated on midweek that he desired his side to be courageous and “demonstrate to the opposition that you can defeat them”, and they certainly seemed to respond to his rallying cry as they continued to perform with energy and attacking purpose, while Chelsea stayed threatening at the other end too, with Aggie Beever-Jones coming close.

Such was the extent of the test the champions were being faced with, there was even a uncommon moment of annoyance from Bompastor, with the visiting manager given a yellow card in the later stages after she complained about a free-kick call awarded to her side.

Chelsea’s Nüsken curled an shot just off target of a upright as the away team began to search for a last-gasp winner, and Thompson was almost able to sprint through on to a loose pass inside the penalty area but she was tackled by the alert United shot-stopper Tullis-Joyce, who also dived low to her side to keep out a Walsh effort shortly after.

Guro Reiten had a attempt blocked in stoppage time, as increasing Chelsea pressure grew, but ultimately a tie was a relatively just outcome and sets the weekend’s fixtures up nicely before the remaining challengers, Manchester City and the Gunners, face off on the weekend.

They will be hungry to take advantage on the leaders and United sharing a result, with City in a position to close to within a point of the top team if they win.