Man United ended Chelsea’s perfect start to the season in thoroughly entertaining 1-1 draw in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Manchester United and Chelsea played out a thoroughly enjoyable 1-1 draw, as both teams remain unbeaten, so far in the Women’s Super League (WSL) season. Two quality first half goals from Sandberg and Kaptein respectively ensured that both teams left with a point, ending Chelsea’s 100% start to the season.
Manchester United made one change from last weekend’s 2-0 victory away at rivals Liverpool. Anna Sandberg returned back to the starting XII having missed the Liverpool tie through illness. Maya Le Tissier started her 71st consecutive WSL game, setting a new record for consecutive starts from one player, for one club in the WSL.
The away side made three changes from their emphatic 4-1 victory against West Ham, as they looked to continue their perfect start to the season. Ellie Carpenter, Sandy Baltimore, Catarina Macario all came into the starting XI, replacing Veerle Buurman, Oriane Jean-Francois and club record signing Alyssa Thompson, who all dropped to the bench. Bompastor said in her pre match press conference that she wanted to take more risks during games, which was further emphasised by her decision to move to a four back defensive line, with offensive fullbacks. Sam Kerr had to again make place with a spot on the bench, as Aggie Beever-Jones searched to become the first player since Vivianne Miedema, to score in the first five games of the season.
Prior to kick off a minute’s silence was held for the victims of the Manchester synagogue attack on Thursday. Manchester United also wore black armbands, as Manchester City will follow suit in their clash against Arsenal. ‘A city united’, against abhorrent acts of terror and violence.
The players also joined arm in arm around the centre circle, to show unity and a send a strong message against racism, at the start of Black History Month.
The Lineups
MUN: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Julia Zigiotti Olme, Hinata Miyazawa., Ella Toone; Jess Park, Elisabeth Terland, Fridolina Rolfö
CHE: Hampton; Carpenter, Bright, Björn, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert, Kaptein; Beever-Jones, Macario, Rytting Kaneryd
The Action
Manchester United started the game really effectively and had the first real chance of the game. Chelsea’s high-risk play, with both fullbacks playing very offensively, gave United an abundance of space on transition. With just 4 minutes gone, Toone picked up the ball on the edge of her own box, and then proceeded to run 60 yards through the heart of the Chelsea midfield. Toone then slid a perfectly weighted pass out to Jess Park, who attempted to find the roof of the net but fired over.
Chelsea however quickly settled, and their quality was soon on show as they scored the first goal of the evening, just eight minutes in. It was a superb team goal, as Caterina Macario produced a moment of stunning inventiveness, backheeling the ball with her back to goal into the path of Wieke Kaptein, who remained incredibly composed, sliding the ball into the bottom corner. Many teams have struggled to break down the Manchester United defence, but with a lovely flowing move, the defending champions cut them open with ease.
United however, soon after produced their own moment of brilliant quality. A searching cross from Maya Le Tissier was only half cleared by Keira Walsh, allowing Ella Toone to nod the ball into the path of Anna Sandburg. With the ball awkwardly bouncing, Sandburg hit a ferocious volley which flew into the far corner, leaving even the best goalkeeper in the world with zero chance. Chelsea however will be disappointed with the initial defending from the cross, and even allowing the ball to fall to Sandberg in that position.
The Blues continued to push after the equaliser, but the high-risk strategy adopted by Bompastor for this match, was leaving them very vulnerable defensively. United were finding large gaps in-between the Blue’s midfield and defence often creating an overload and four on two situations.
Chelsea’s approach to the game was still however causing problems for United’s defence. Tullis-Joyce was forced into a brilliant point blank save just after the thirty minute mark after Kaptein failed to add her second her of the game. Aggie Beever-Jones found space on the left hand side, and drove well at United’s backline. A brilliant pull back landed at the feet of Kaptein but she couldn’t capitalise. Kaptein, despite the great save, will feel like she should have done a lot better given the nature of the opportunity.
Manchester United ended the first half as the team on top and solidified that at the start of the second. United continued to probe and press the Chelsea defence, continuing to exploit the large spaces in between the Chelsea midfield and defence. The first warning sign for Chelsea in the second half was sent as Rolfö hit the top of the bar from a deflected shot, from the edge of the box.
Chelsea’s poor start to the second half was epitomised by Bompastor’s quick decision to change things, just six minutes into the second half. It was the opportunity for Bompastor to flex the strength in depth her squad possesses, as she replaced the Chelsea goal scorer Kaptein with club record signing Alyssa Thompson. Despite the changes, United continued to find space in behind Chelsea, as United’s brightest spark Jess Park fired over from the edge of the box.
The Blue’s using their depth, slowly began to grow into the game. Both fullbacks started creating more problems for United, contributing heavily to some lovely flowing moves, and some great football all in all.
The game entered into large transitional phases with it becoming quite end to end. United went route one football, and with Chelsea unable to deal with the bouncing ball, Malard was slipped through and shot just past the far post. Another effort that, on reflection, she’ll be disappointed to have to even hit the target.
Chelsea did manage to wrestle some of the momentum back as the game drew to a close, and United tired. Alyssa Thompson delivered a wicked cross towards the back post in the dying embers, but it just drifted past the diving Aggie Beever-Jones. This would prove to be the final chance for either team as the referee drew this entertaining clash to a close.
Manchester United Player Ratings
GK: Tullis-Joyce – 8/10 – The United keeper made a number of good saves, particularly one at point blank range and was a composed figure throughout.
LB: Anna Sandberg – 9/10 – A brilliant goal topped off an overall very secure evening for Sandberg. She looked back at home in that United defence and was always a threat when she pushed higher up the pitch.
CB: Maya Le Tissier – 8/10 – The beating heart of the United defence produced another top performance, marshalling her defence so effectively. Her desire and fight epitomized in the final moments with what could have been a goal saving block.
CB: Dominique Janssen – 7/10 – A steadfast performance, not putting a foot wrong very often at all.
RB: Jayde Riviere – 7/10 – Looked confident throughout but began to tire towards the end. Thompson was causing real issues for her, and ultimately led to her substitution.
CDM: Hinata Miyazawa – 7/10 – Very composed throughout and always someone you can rely on in that United midfield.
CM: Ella Toone – 8/10 – Was fantastic throughout, particularly in the first half. Never afraid to get hold of the ball, and effectively took advantages of the large spaces in between Chelsea’s defines and midfield with brilliant runs.
CM: Julia Zigiotti Olme – 7/10 – Nothing particularly special but nevertheless a strong performance and completed her role well.
LM: Jess Park – 9/10 – The brightest spark for United all game. Constantly looking to create and cause problems for the Chelsea defence.
RM: Fridolina Rolfö – 8/10 – Really came into her own in the second half. Much improved performance, in which she got on the ball a lot more and asked many more questions.
ST: Elisabeth Terland – 6/10 – An average performance. Never really troubled Hampton and struggled to make a solid impact on the pitch.
Chelsea Player Ratings
GK: Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – As per usual, a composed figure at the back for Chelsea. Wasn’t forced into many tricky saves and had no chance for Sandberg’s wonder strike.
RWB: Ellie Carpenter – 7/10 – Was involved throughout but failed to make as many key impacts as she would’ve hoped.
CB: Millie Bright – 6/10 – Struggled to have the impact she usually does on the team. Was dealing with overloads all night due to the spaces in midfield which made her job much harder.
CB: Nathalie Björn – 6/10 – Similar to Bright. Her job made much harder by the abundance of space afforded to the United team to run into.
LWB: Sandy Blatimore – 6/10 – Was a threat going forward and always looked to move the ball forward. Was caught out multiple times during transitions, however.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – a strong display in midfield but would be wanted to do much more in an attacking front.
CM: Keira Walsh – 5/10 – A poor display by Walsh’s usual standards. A poor clearance allowed for Toone to nod the ball into the path of Sandberg for the goal and she failed to make any impact in any department.
CAM: Wieke Kaptein – 8/10 – Brilliantly composed finish started Chelsea off in the best way possible. Always a threat going forward and will have felt she should have scored a brace.
RW: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6/10 – An average performance with nothing to particularly write home about. She would have wanted to have made a greater impact.
LW: Aggie Beever-Jones – 7/10 – Moved out of the usual position of striker to the left-hand side but still posed a threat. Went close on a couple of occasions and can count herself unlucky she didn’t record an assist.
ST: Cat Macario – 8/10 – Fantastic inventiveness with the backheel assist for Chelsea’s only goal. She created the most chances in the match (4) and was a threat throughout.
