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The Blues and United each kept their undefeated starts to the Women’s Super League season, although the title holders' perfect victorious record was halted by an entertaining contest between the top two.

The result extended Manchester United's frustratingly lengthy drought for a maiden WSL win over the Blues but they can take great confidence from their performance, on a night when each side generated plenty of chances to win and the hosts demonstrated they may well have the qualities to launch a serious title challenge.

Fast-Paced Start Sees Early Goals

For a match played between the teams with the top two defence records in the Women's Super League last term, and which had allowed the fewest scores so far this campaign before kick-off, the match started in a surprisingly open fashion as each pushed forward early on.

The match opened at such a rapid pace that it might well have been 2-2 inside the opening moments, with Hannah Hampton stopping with her legs from Elisabeth Terland, Macario's shot being deflected by Maya Le Tissier, Jess Park shooting just over the crossbar and then Aggie Beever‑Jones following suit when she certainly seemed certain to score.

The visitors did then provide the goal the initial flurry of offensive moves had promised, as Wieke Kaptein connected with Catarina Macario's clever back-heeled ball and placed a neat, clinical shot into the bottom into the corner, as the home team conceded a WSL score for only the second occasion this season.

Sandberg's Stunning Equaliser

United had been defeated in 10 of their prior 11 WSL fixtures with Chelsea, but this assured iteration of Skinner's side were not prepared to surrender.

Inspired by the dribbling of Park, who appeared determined to skip her way past as numerous defenders as she could and was the driving force of her side's attacking play, they persisted to generate opportunities and they were quickly back on terms when Anna Sandberg scored her maiden goal for the team.

Sandberg could not have caught her strike any sweeter, angling her foot perfectly over the sphere to drive a first-time effort forcefully beyond the keeper from just outside the box.

Solemn Atmosphere During Bad Weather

This fixture was played during inclement weather, which brought driving rain and strong bursts of wind, and commenced with a minute’s reflection following the terrorist attack on a place of worship in Manchester on Thursday, with the hosts also wearing armbands as a sign of tribute.

Additionally, the two sides united in a group pre-match to oppose racial discrimination at the beginning of Black History Month, in a week when the Peterborough United player Rai suffered discriminatory remarks.

England national team and Tottenham Hotspur forward Jessica Naz was the target of racism online over a week earlier.

Improved Manchester United Challenge the Champions

This was the stadium where the Blues clinched last season’s championship, with a 1-0 win in a game that had been quite balanced.

However, this appears to be a significantly better United team from that time, though, and they continued to pose a danger in the latter period, with Fridolina Rolfö's redirected effort looping on to the upper part of the bar before Park's swerving attempt soared narrowly over.

Malard, introduced from the bench, dragged a ground-level shot wide with 21 minutes left to play.

Late Action Sees Share of Points

Marc Skinner had stated on midweek that he desired his team to be brave and “show the opposition that you can beat them”, and they certainly appeared to react to his motivational words as they kept to perform with energy and offensive intent, while Chelsea remained dangerous at the opposite side too, with Aggie Beever-Jones coming near.

Such was the extent of the test Chelsea were being faced with, there was even a rare moment of frustration from Bompastor, with the Chelsea coach shown a yellow card in the later stages after she complained about a set-piece decision awarded to her team.

Chelsea’s Nüsken curled an effort just wide of a post as the away team started to search for a last-gasp decisive goal, and Alyssa Thompson was nearly able to race through on to a loose pass within the penalty area but she was tackled by the quick-thinking United shot-stopper Tullis-Joyce, who also dived low to her left to keep out a Keira Walsh shot shortly later.

Guro Reiten had a shot deflected in stoppage time, as increasing Chelsea pressure intensified, but in the end a tie was a fairly just result and prepares the round's fixtures up nicely before the other two challengers, Manchester City and the Gunners, go head-to-head on the weekend.

They will be eager to take advantage on Chelsea and Manchester United sharing a point, with Manchester City able to close to just one point of the top team if they are victorious.