United push champions all the way
This was a statement performance by Manchester United, one that may indicate that the WsL is ready for another club at its top table. Champions Chelsea looked shaken for spells of yesterday’s match and the early signs are that United manager Casey stoney can make good on her promise to narrow the gap with the cemented top three.
Chelsea have shared this trophy with Manchester City and Arsenal since 2015 and, while that should remain the case this season, results against United could determine the champion. For stoney, that is certainly progress at a club in only its third year of existence and now inpossespoint
possession of a first ever point taken off the big guns. s.
‘it was going to take k e every ounce from us,’ ,’ stoney said. ‘ We e removed the fear and had a go. We stood up to them. There was more belief, a stronger mentality.’
United were the better side after going a goal down to o sam Kerr and Leah ah Galton’s late equaliser ser was exactly what they deserved for forcing Chelsea into awkward areaseas with sustained counter-pressing.
A bit more cutting edge and the hosts might have nicked it. stoney will wonder what United might be able to achieve this term with experienced UsA internationals, Tobin heath and Christen Press, expected to arrive in the coming days and offer more attacking ingenuity.
‘i’m a bit gutted because we could’ve gone on to win that,’ Galton said. ‘it’s a big result. it sets us up well. We want to get into the top three and that shows we can. We’ve got extra belief this year. if we can perform like that on the opening day then we can go far.’
For Chelsea, it is a setback after both City and Arsenal won on the opening weekend. They ought to have been out of sight before Galton’s equaliser 11 minutes from time, sliding home Jackie Groenen’s cross.
As in last weekend’s Community shield, Kerr missed a glut of presentable presentab opportunities, while EErin Cuthbert was denied denie by Mary Earps after afte ghosting in at the backba post. ‘We got a bit complacent,’ p Chelsea boss Emma hayes said. ‘ We played poorly but had the majority of chances. We’re champions and a we have topclasscl players here. We had ha an off day.’ Kerr’sKe goal will hold particular partic resonance for Fran Kirby,Kir who squared for the AustralianAustrali on her first WsL appearance since November, when she was diagnosed with pericarditis and told she may never play again.
Kirby ‘feels like a new signing’ and Chelsea’s response to winning the league has been to spend again. Pernille harder, the most high-profile capture for a world-record £300,000 from Wolfsburg, made a late debut.
‘it’s incredible for our league that we can attract players of this ilk,’ hayes added.