Chelsea Women vs Manchester United Women: A Tale of Two Halves

Chelsea rue early misses as steely Manchester United prove this years Women’s Super League is set to be the toughest yet.

All eyes were on reigning champions Chelsea as they took on Manchester United in their opening fixture of the 2020/21 Women’s Super League season at Leigh Sports Village earlier today. The Blues came into the game off the back of a Double-winning campaign last season, and a busy transfer window that was capped by the announcement of world-record signing: Pernille Harder, from Wolfsburg; the most expensive transfer in the women’s game. Meanwhile, Casey Stoney’s Manchester United side were looking to break into the top three after finishing fourth in their debut season last year.

It was the WSL champions that got off to the more promising start with Fran Kirby in particular starting brightly down the right-hand side for the Blues. The 27-year-old’s driving runs in behind the United defence were a key feature of the first-half and caused plenty of problems for the Reds. When Kirby made another darting run and drove a low cross into the box it was none other than Australian international, Sam Kerr who converted from close range to put Chelsea ahead and silence her critics after she struggled to convert numerous chances in the recent Community Shield match. Kirby certainty showed that she was also back to her very best after returning from a battle with Pericarditis, an inflammatory condition of the heart, to make her first appearance since November last year.

Despite Chelsea threatening a second goal, Manchester United held on and had a few promising moments of their own out wide with both winger’s: Kirsty Hanson and Leah Galton, making the biggest impact for the Reds; the latter coming close to equalising just before half-time when her header rattled the Chelsea crossbar. Yet, without the quality needed in the final third to pierce the Chelsea defence the Reds failed to trouble Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Carly Telford.

The second-half highlighted the fragility of a 1-0 lead and was unrecognisable from the first with Chelsea’s only early chance coming from an overlapping run and fine cross by Maren Mjelde; Abbie McManus doing just enough in defence to prevent Sam Kerr from grabbing a brace. As Chelsea failed to capitalise on their chances to finish off the game, a tactical change from United resulted in them engaging Chelsea further up the pitch, putting the Blues under pressure and causing them to lack the fluidity they had displayed in the first-half. United continued to dominate possession throughout the second-half and the impact of substitutes Jackie Groenen and later Lauren James, gave United the quality required to execute a much-needed final ball. The long spell of pressure from United finally took its toll on Chelsea’s defence when Groenen’s cross found Galton inside the box to side-foot home after 78 minutes to equalise proceedings.

Despite Chelsea utilising their squad depth by bringing on Erin Cuthbert, Bethany England (last years top scorer) and the hotly anticipated, Pernille Harder in the closing minutes of the game, United’s relentless work rate continued to disrupt the Blue’s rhythm. Some fine saves at the latter end of the second-half by United goalkeeper Mary Earps ensured the Reds would improve on last seasons 1-0 defeat to Chelsea to come away with a point, despite the Blues having the clearer chances out of the two sides.

The result leaves Chelsea and Manchester United in fifth and six place while Arsenal and Everton occupy the top two spots after victories in their opening fixtures against Reading and Bristol City respectively. The Blues will be looking to bounce back to winning ways as they take on Bristol City next Sunday, while Casey Stoney’s side travel to Birmingham City where they will be looking to continue their promising start to the season.