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The Blues and United each kept their unbeaten starts to the WSL campaign, but the defending champions' 100% victorious record was halted by an thrilling match between the best sides.

This outcome extended Manchester United's agonisingly long drought for a maiden Women's Super League win over Chelsea but they can take significant encouragement from their display, on a evening when each side created numerous opportunities to claim victory and the hosts demonstrated they could very well have the attributes to mount a genuine championship bid.

High-Intensity Start Sees Quick Scores

For a game played between the sides with the two best defence records in the WSL previous season, and which had allowed the least scores so far this season before the start, the match began in a unexpectedly open manner as each pushed forward from the outset.

The match opened at such a fast pace that it could easily have been 2-2 inside the opening moments, with Hannah Hampton stopping with her feet from the forward, Catarina Macario's shot being deflected by Le Tissier, Park firing narrowly over the crossbar and then Beever-Jones following suit when she certainly seemed certain to find the net.

Chelsea did then provide the opener the initial flurry of offensive moves had promised, as Wieke Kaptein met Macario's smart back-heeled ball and slotted in a neat, deadly finish low into the corner, as the home team let in a WSL goal for only the second occasion this season.

Sandberg's Spectacular Leveler

Manchester United had lost 10 of their prior 11 WSL meetings with the Blues, but this confident version of Marc Skinner's side were not prepared to roll over.

Inspired by the dribbling of Jess Park, who seemed intent to skip her way past as numerous defenders as she could and was the engine of her side's attacking style, they continued to generate chances and they were quickly back on terms when Sandberg scored her first strike for the club.

She could not have struck her strike any sweeter, positioning her foot perfectly over the ball to drive a first-time effort forcefully beyond the keeper from only beyond the area.

Respectful Atmosphere Amid Bad Weather

The game was played amid Storm Amy, which produced driving rain and strong bursts of wind, and commenced with a moment of reflection after the tragic incident on a synagogue in Manchester on the previous day, with the home side also wearing black armbands as a mark of tribute.

Furthermore, the two sides united in a circle pre-match to oppose racial discrimination at the beginning of this important period, in a time when the Peterborough United footballer Rai experienced discriminatory remarks.

England national team and Tottenham attacker Naz was the victim of abuse on the internet nine days previously.

Improved United Challenge Chelsea

This was the stadium where the Blues secured last season’s championship, with a 1-0 win in a fixture that had been fairly balanced.

This looks like a much-improved United team from that time, though, and they persisted to threaten in the latter period, with Rolfö's redirected shot floating on to the top of the bar before Park's curling attempt flew just over.

Melvine Malard, introduced from the bench, pulled a low shot off target with 21 minutes left to play.

Closing Action Sees Share of Spoils

Marc Skinner had stated on Wednesday that he wanted his team to be courageous and “show the opposition that you can defeat them”, and they certainly appeared to respond to his rallying cry as they continued to play with intensity and attacking intent, while the visitors remained dangerous at the other end too, with Beever-Jones coming close.

Such was the extent of the test the champions were being presented with, there was even a rare moment of annoyance from Bompastor, with the visiting coach given a caution in the second half after she bemoaned a free-kick call awarded to her team.

The Blues' Nüsken bent an effort only off target of a post as the away team began to search for a last-gasp decisive goal, and Thompson was nearly able to race forward on to a loose pass inside the penalty area but she was tackled by the quick-thinking United shot-stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who also dived down to her side to keep out a Keira Walsh shot moments later.

Guro Reiten had a attempt blocked in added time, as increasing Chelsea attacks grew, but in the end a draw was a relatively just result and sets the round's fixtures up perfectly before the other two challengers, Manchester City and Arsenal, face off on the weekend.

They will be eager to take advantage on the leaders and United splitting a result, with Manchester City in a position to move to just one point of the top team if they win.