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Manchester United produced what many are calling a "defining" performance against defending champions Chelsea, though the team were left hoping for rather than the solitary point earned from the match.

United successfully end Chelsea's 100% start to the new campaign as their defender's superb strike cancelled out Wieke Kaptein's exquisite opener.

This result represented a significant outcome for United, who had before this lost in 10 and drawn just one of their prior eleven league meetings with Chelsea.

However, manager Marc Skinner expressed "disappointment" that his team came away with only one point rather than all three points as they extended their undefeated run to 5 games.

During the match, United's midfielder wasted opportunities on either side of the halftime, while Jess Park should have converted with a lofted attempt before coming close with a powerful shot.

Former England player Fara Williams stated: "I felt like Manchester United will probably be regretting missed opportunities. They created numerous good chances and perhaps with better finishing in the attacking area, they would have secured victory."

Nevertheless, Manchester United might have just as easily ended with no points from the fixture.

Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a superb second-half save to prevent Chelsea's Keira Walsh, while both defenders Maya Le Tissier and Sandberg put their bodies on the line during the closing stages to keep the Blues at bay.

Ex- England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis added: "They're the initial team to take points off Chelsea this season. If they must put out a statement to their own club and reaffirm what Manchester United's aspiration is, they've earned every bit of that."

Draw Shows Improvement of Developing Manchester United

This big inquiry at the start of the current season - the same one that's been asked over the previous six WSL campaigns - is whether anyone can stop Chelsea's supremacy.

The Blues won last season's trophy by remaining 22 games without defeat in Sonia Bompastor's debut season as manager - part of a domestic treble as they won the Women's FA Cup and League Cup too.

In fact, it's been more than 500 days since Chelsea previously lost a league game - a 4-3 defeat at Liverpool on 1 May, 2024.

Manchester United narrowly missed to ending that run on Friday night in a leading teams encounter and Skinner was proud of "an extremely brave performance" from his players.

The manager stated: "We are building. You can observe it, you can feel it. We are disappointed to not win the game. The opportunities we generated, few teams could produce that against Chelsea. So for us to achieve that and in the way we did it was praise to them [the players]."

Since their elevation from the Women's Championship in the 2018-19 season, United have rapidly developed as WSL title contenders, ending up just two points behind Chelsea in the 2022-23 season.

The next season they claimed the FA Cup - their first major women's trophy.

Although a tie against the current league frontrunners may be considered a chance not taken for United, former England striker White thought it showed how far the club has progressed.

The pundit noted: "One must look at that consistency. They've played eleven times against Chelsea now and only tied once, currently the second, so I think it's really good for their reliability and what they're achieving as a organization and a squad. It shows it's effective and they're improving."

Questioned if Skinner deserved more recognition for United's rise to compete with more established clubs, the expert added: "The work he's done with these individuals, the approach, the DNA, how resolute they are. He does not have the quantity of money or been able to spend the sum of money the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or [Manchester] City have done."

How Does This Impact the Championship Battle?

Chelsea's perfect start may have ended, but they nonetheless remain in first place on thirteen points - two points clear of United.

However Skinner stated his side's display at the Progress With Unity Stadium - where Chelsea secured last season's title - demonstrated the Blues will not have it so straightforward this time around.

The manager added: "This proves to Chelsea they're not simply going to walk the league. We must make sure everyone is providing a contest. I think the league is improving and you witnessed the standard, that we are progressing too."

Blues boss Bompastor was "displeased" with Chelsea's performance, but stated a tie was "a decent result at Manchester United".

Asked if United were title challengers, she responded: "I see many teams being genuine competition for us, every game brings a distinct challenge. You have to be ready for every game."

Manchester City, who lost to Chelsea in the first match, might reduce the difference on the frontrunners to a single point if they beat Arsenal at home on the weekend.

The previous season's second-place Arsenal, meanwhile, have work to recover after dropping points against both United and Aston Villa, and boss Renee Slegers will be eyeing the Gunners' home game against Chelsea on November 8th as a way to get themselves into the race.