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The Red Devils delivered what many are calling a "defining" performance against reigning title holders Chelsea, though the team were feeling wanting for rather than the solitary point earned from the match.

Manchester United managed to halt Chelsea's 100% beginning to the new season as Anna Sandberg's sublime volley cancelled out the Chelsea player's brilliant first goal.

This result marked a important outcome for United, who had previously lost in ten and tied just a single of their prior 11 league encounters with Chelsea.

However, manager Marc Skinner voiced "disappointment" that his side secured only a draw rather than maximum points as they continued their undefeated run to five games.

During the match, Ella Toone wasted opportunities on either side of the interval, while Jess Park could have converted with a chipped effort before narrowly missing with a dipping volley.

Former England player Fara Williams commented: "I felt like Manchester United might be regretting missed opportunities. They created plenty of good chances and perhaps with improved composure in the attacking area, they would have come out on top."

Nevertheless, United might have just as readily walked away with nothing from the fixture.

Shot-stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a excellent second-half save to deny Chelsea's Keira Walsh, while the defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg put their bodies on the line during the closing stages to prevent the Blues at bay.

Former England shot-stopper Rachel Brown-Finnis added: "United are the first team to take points off Chelsea this season. If they need to put out a statement to their organization and reaffirm what Manchester United's aspiration is, they've deserved every bit of that."

Draw Shows Improvement of Growing Manchester United

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

The Blues secured last season's trophy by going twenty-two games unbeaten in Sonia Bompastor's debut season as manager - part of a three trophies as they won the Women's FA Cup and League Cup too.

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

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

Skinner commented: "We're building. You can observe it, you can sense it. We are disappointed to not win the game. The chances we generated, few teams could create that against Chelsea. So for us to achieve that and in the manner we accomplished it was praise to them [the players]."

Since their promotion from the Women's Championship in the 2018-19 season, United have quickly developed as WSL title challengers, finishing just 2 points behind Chelsea in the 2022-23 season.

The following season they won the FA Cup - their inaugural major women's trophy.

While a tie against the present league leaders may be deemed a missed opportunity for United, former England striker White thought it showed how far the club has progressed.

She remarked: "One must look at that steady performance. They've played eleven times against Chelsea to date and only drawn one time, currently the second time, so I think it's truly positive for their reliability and what they're doing as a organization and a squad. It shows it's effective and they're getting better."

Asked if Skinner earned more credit for United's rise to compete with more traditional clubs, White added: "The work he's done with these individuals, the philosophy, the DNA, how resolute they are. He does not have the quantity of money or been able to spend the sum of money the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or [Manchester] City have done."

How Will This Impact the Title Race?

The Blues' flawless beginning may have concluded, but they still stay top on thirteen points - two points clear of United.

But Skinner stated his team's performance at the Progress With Unity Stadium - where Chelsea secured last season's title - demonstrated the Blues won't have it quite as easy this season.

The manager added: "This proves to Chelsea they're not simply going to run away with the league. We must ensure everyone is putting a contest. I think the league is improving and you witnessed the quality, that we are progressing too."

Blues boss Bompastor was "displeased" with Chelsea's performance, but stated a tie was "a decent result at Manchester United".

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

Manchester City, who lost to Chelsea in the first match, might close the difference on the frontrunners to a single point if they defeat Arsenal at home on Saturday.

Last season's second-place Arsenal, meanwhile, have work to make up after dropping points against both United and Aston Villa, and manager Renee Slegers will be eyeing the Gunners' home game against Chelsea on 8 November as a opportunity to get themselves into contention.