Man United draw with Chelsea signals WSL title race narrowing

• Emily KeoghOct 3, 2025, 07:06 PM ET

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  Based in London, Emily Keogh is ESPN’s women’s soccer correspondent, specializing in the WSL and UWCL

LEIGH, England — Manchester United have edged the door open in the Women’s Super League (WSL) title race, holding reigning champions Chelsea to a hard-fought 1-1 draw that signals a shift in power — however slight — at the top of the table.

Though the season is still young, United’s performance suggests the title could be closer than ever. Chelsea, dominant with six consecutive WSL titles, have built their legacy on ruthless consistency. But on Friday, they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

It wasn’t until December last season when they slipped up and dropped points, cracking the door open for other teams who ultimately failed to close the gap. That opportunity has come far sooner this season.

This was not just a well-earned point for Manchester United. It was a statement. Two seasons ago, United were thrashed 6-0 in this very fixture, a sobering reminder of the gulf between the two sides. Last year, they closed the gap with a narrow 1-0 loss. Now, for the first time in this matchup since their promotion, they’ve taken something tangible. It’s a steady evolution, not quite a revolution, but one that signals real progress under manager Marc Skinner.

And while a draw doesn’t move mountains, it does shift perceptions. United look stronger, sharper and more composed, not just hanging on, but actively dictating parts of the game. Gone are the days when they’d crumble under pressure against the league’s elite.

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That being said, Skinner admitted after the match that it is hard for a team to build on foundations to catch up to Chelsea when the Blues keep finding ways to advance themselves. “The thing with Chelsea is they just keep moving when we try and get near, so we have to try and maximize our own qualities to get as close as we can,” he said.

Chelsea, for their part, started brightly and looked to have taken control early on. A smooth, incisive move down the right side saw Catarina Macario produce a delightful back heel in the box to set up Wieke Kaptein, who finished with aplomb, slotting the ball home with precision.

But their lead didn’t last long. A moment of slack defending, uncharacteristic for a team of their standing, allowed United’s Ella Toone to react quickly to a loose clearance. She headed the ball into the path of United’s Anna Sandberg, and the Swedish defender unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the area. The ball flew into the top corner, giving Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton no chance. It was Sandberg’s first goal for United, and based on quality alone, she might not net another more spectacular.

The equalizer ignited something in United. From that point on, the hosts grew in confidence, stringing together dangerous counterattacks and asserting control in midfield.

Jess Park, the summer signing from Manchester City, was outstanding. Her intelligent pressing, clever movement and relentless energy disrupted Chelsea’s rhythm throughout the match. She found pockets of space between the lines, linking play and creating openings.

England stars Keira Walsh, left, and Ella Toone went head-to-head as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Manchester United. Molly Darlington/Getty Images

Although Chelsea’s off-the-ball movement improved in the second half, they never quite regained the initiative. Their play was unusually sloppy at times as careless passes, lapses in concentration and a midfield that was frequently bypassed by United’s energetic surges led them off their game plan.

Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor cut a visibly frustrated figure on the sideline. Known for her passionate but controlled demeanor, the French coach was particularly animated in Leigh. She spent much of the match barking instructions and expressing exasperation at her side’s sloppiness. Her frustrations eventually boiled over when she received her first-ever yellow card in her 100th match as a manager.

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Still, for all their commitment and tactical discipline, United will know this was a missed opportunity. They managed just six shots on target from 16 attempts — a familiar story for Skinner’s side, who also fired blanks in a recent 0-0 draw against Arsenal. Creating chances is no longer the issue, but finishing them remains a key hurdle.

Skinner can take pride in a performance that stifled a team with enough firepower to dismantle anyone. His side was organized, physical and arguably deserved more than they got from the evening. United have proved they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams, but draws, however impressive, won’t be enough to turn heads in the long run. “We haven’t beaten them yet in the league, so we need to beat them,” Skinner said. “We’ve got a little bit further to travel.”

Chelsea, on the other hand, will likely view this result as a minor setback rather than a crisis, after their record-breaking unbeaten campaign last season. But Friday’s draw proves that the margin for error is narrowing.

If United are serious about a title push, they must start beating the league’s elite. They’ve toppled Arsenal and City in recent seasons and even bested Chelsea in the FA Cup. But the league bragging rights remain elusive.

To ascend to the top, they’ll need to do more than just share points with the champions. They must kick the door down, not just hold it ajar.

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