MX23RW : Friday, December 27 01:43:07| >> :120:7343:7343:

Manchester United deny champions Chelsea winning start to title defence

Manchester United deny champions Chelsea winning start to title defence
© Reuters
The Manchester United striker swept home the equaliser from close range in the 79th minute.

Leah Galton struck late to deny champions Chelsea a winning start to their new WSL campaign at Leigh Sports Village.

The Manchester United striker swept home the equaliser from close range in the 79th minute as the hosts cancelled out Sam Kerr's 25th minute strike to earn a 1-1 draw.

The visitors, who introduced new signing Pernille Harder for the final 10 minutes, continued to press and almost grabbed the winner when Erin Cuthbert had a shot blocked.

Manchester United v Chelsea – FA Women's Super League – Leigh Sports Village Stadium
Sam Kerr gave champions Chelsea the lead against Manchester United (Martin Rickett/PA)

But Casey Stoney's side held out under the strong late pressure and ultimately proved good value for their point.

Jill Roord scored a hat-trick as Arsenal kicked off their campaign with a 6-1 thrashing of Reading.

Goals from Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema put the hosts in control before Roord opened her account to make it 3-0 at the break.

Two more strikes from Roord sandwiched Miedema's second, which crashed in off the underside of the bar, before Danielle Carter scored a late consolation for Reading.

Adriana Leon fired a superb equaliser as West Ham kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

Kit Graham hit the crossbar twice as Spurs dominated the first half then grabbed a 53rd minute lead through a Grace Fisk own goal.

But the new-look Hammers pulled level four minutes later when Canadian international Leon cut in from the left win and drilled her shot into the top right corner.

Two goals from captain Lucy Graham helped Everton to a 4-0 win at Bristol City, with the other goals coming from Simone Magill and Valerie Gauvin.

But the visitors, who welcomed back Izzy Christiansen, did not have it all their own way with City coming close through Aimee Palmer and Ebony Salmon.

Megan Connolly and Inessa Kaagman both scored within two second half minutes as Hope Powell's Brighton began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Birmingham.

ID:413233: cacheID:413233:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6764:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi in action with Manchester United's Eric Bailly in the Premier League on February 17, 2020
Read Next:
Chelsea 'to offer Michy Batshuayi new contract'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Chelsea18105338211735
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
4Arsenal1796234161833
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
12Brentford177283232023
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1813141137-266


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!