Manchester United's 'brave' draw against Chelsea shows Blues are 'not going to walk' Women's Super League this season
Published 03/10/2025 at 23:21 GMT+1
Chelsea dropped points in the Women's Super League for the first time since March as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United. The champions opened the scoring through Wieke Kaptein, but were pegged back just 11 minutes later thanks to Anna Sandberg's spectacular volley. Sonia Bompastor's side remain top of the division, but United stay within touching distance, just two points behind.
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Marc Skinner said Manchester United’s "brave" draw against Chelsea in the Women's Super League (WSL) showed The Blues are "not just going to walk the league" this season.
Sonia Bompastor’s side dropped points in the WSL for the first time since March after being held to a 1-1 draw by United in testing conditions at Progress with Unity Stadium.
Wieke Kaptein opened the scoring for the champions as she finished off a slick move after just nine minutes, but they were pegged back shortly after by Anna Sandberg’s volleyed equaliser.
Speaking at full-time, United boss Skinner said Friday’s match was further evidence of improvements in his side, who, along with Chelsea, have also enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign.
"I want us to act like that," Skinner told BBC Three. "We want more. That's what we breed into our players; we're a team that's hungry for success.
"I have been here a long time now and I want to make sure my team have that hunger when they enter the pitch."
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Anna Sandberg celebrates her equaliser against Chelsea
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He added: "We are going to make sure we do that in every other game for sure, as best we can. We will give absolutely everything.
"It shows that Chelsea, they're not just going to walk the league. We need to make sure everyone is putting a challenge in.
"I think the league is getting better, and you saw the quality tonight and that we are progressing too.
"The most brave performance. We're building. You can see it, you can sense it. We are disappointed not to win the game.
"The chances we created, not many teams could create that against Chelsea. So for us to do that, and in the way we did it, was credit to them."
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Manchester United boss Marc Skinner
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Having picked up just one point from their previous 11 league meetings with Chelsea, it felt like a familiar story was unfolding when Catarina Macario’s clever back-heel inside the box picked out Kaptein, who slotted home past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
But it took just 11 minutes for the hosts to get back on level terms, with Sanbderg rifling home a volley into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box following a knock down from Ella Toone.
Chelsea pushed for a second and went close to getting one when Kaptein fired over before the interval, but despite significant pressure late on, they were forced to settle for the point.
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Bompastor’s frustrations boiled over in the second half when a free-kick call went against her side and she found herself in the book for her protests.
Speaking afterwards, she said: "I'm smiling because for me the call was the wrong call. It was a clear foul for everyone except for the referee, so I was frustrated.
"I still think it is the wrong call, it could've been a really good free-kick for us. I think these details are really important at the highest level."
United had chances themselves in the second period, with Fridolina Rolfo clipping the top of the crossbar with a deflected strike, Melvine Malard firing just wide from inside the area, and Jess Park going close with a volley.
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The Blues remain top of the WSL on 13 points from a possible 15, with United two points behind in second.
Skinner’s side could slip to fourth in the table by the end of the weekend, though, if Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur register wins in their respective fixtures.
The sides return to action on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League, with Chelsea making the trip to Twente while United host Valerenga.
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