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Manchester United delivered what observers are describing as a "statement" performance against defending title holders Chelsea, though they were feeling wanting for more than the solitary point secured from the match.

United managed to end Chelsea's perfect beginning to the new campaign as Anna Sandberg's superb strike cancelled out Wieke Kaptein's exquisite opener.

This result marked a important achievement for the Red Devils, who had previously been defeated in ten and tied just a single of their previous eleven league encounters with Chelsea.

However, boss Marc Skinner expressed "disappointment" that his side secured only a draw rather than all three points as they continued their unbeaten run to 5 games.

During the match, United's midfielder wasted chances on both sides of the halftime, while teammate Jess Park should have done better with a lofted attempt before narrowly missing with a powerful shot.

Ex- England player Fara Williams stated: "I felt like Manchester United might be kicking themselves. They created plenty of quality chances and perhaps with improved composure in the final third, they would have secured victory."

However, Manchester United could have just as readily ended with no points from the match.

Shot-stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce produced a excellent second-half save to deny Chelsea's Keira Walsh, while the defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg made crucial blocks during the closing stages to prevent Chelsea from scoring.

Ex- England shot-stopper Rachel Brown-Finnis remarked: "United are the first team to take points off Chelsea this season. If they need to issue a statement to their organization and confirm what Manchester United's aspiration is, they've earned every bit of that."

Draw Demonstrates Improvement of Developing Manchester United

The big question at the beginning of the current season - the same one that's been asked over the last six WSL seasons - is whether anyone can end Chelsea's supremacy.

The Blues won last season's trophy by going twenty-two games without defeat in Sonia Bompastor's debut season as manager - part of a domestic treble as they lifted the Women's FA Cup and League Cup too.

Actually, it's been more than five hundred days since Chelsea previously lost a league game - a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool on May 1st, 2024.

Manchester United came close to halting that run on the weekend in a leading teams encounter and Skinner was proud of "the most brave performance" from his squad.

Skinner stated: "We are building. You can observe it, you can sense it. We are frustrated to have not won the game. The opportunities we created, few teams could produce that against Chelsea. So for us to do that and in the way we did it was credit to them [the players]."

After their elevation from the Women's Championship in 2019, United have quickly developed as WSL title challengers, ending up just 2 points behind Chelsea in the 2022-23 season.

The next season they claimed the FA Cup - their first major women's trophy.

Although a draw against the present league leaders may be deemed a missed opportunity for United, former England striker White thought it demonstrated how far the club has come.

She noted: "You have to look at that steady performance. They've played eleven times against Chelsea now and only drawn one time, currently the second, so I think it's really positive for their consistency and what they're doing as a club and a team. It proves it's effective and they're improving."

Asked if Skinner deserved more recognition for United's rise to challenge with more traditional clubs, White continued: "What he's accomplished with these individuals, the approach, the DNA, how resolute they are. He does not have the amount of money or been able to spend the amount of money the such teams of Chelsea, Arsenal or [Manchester] City have achieved."

How Does This Impact the Title Race?

Chelsea's flawless beginning may have ended, but they still remain in first place on 13 points - 2 points ahead of United.

But Skinner stated his side's performance at the Progress With Unity Stadium - where Chelsea clinched last season's title - demonstrated the Blues will not have it so straightforward this time around.

He commented: "This proves to Chelsea they're not simply going to run away with the league. We must make sure everyone is putting a contest. I think the league is getting better and you saw the standard, that we are progressing too."

Blues boss Bompastor was "not happy" with Chelsea's display, but stated a tie was "a decent result at Manchester United".

Asked if United were title contenders, she added: "I see many teams being real competition for us, each game brings a different challenge. You have to be ready for every game."

City, who were defeated to Chelsea in the season opener, might reduce the difference on the leaders to one point if they beat Arsenal at home on Saturday.

The previous season's runners-up Arsenal, meanwhile, have ground to recover after losing points against both United and Aston Villa, and manager Renee Slegers will be eyeing the Gunners' home game against Chelsea on November 8th as a way to get themselves back in the race.