Late goal rescues point for Chelsea Women
An injury-time equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at Arsenal and preserved their unbeaten Women’s Super League record.
Beth Mead looked like she’d scored the winner for the hosts before Pernille Harder’s deflected stoppage-time cross looped in off Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Neither team was willing to give anything away in the opening 20 minutes, with both goalkeepers rushing off their lines to snuff out any chances for the strikers.
Things remained cagey for the remainder of the half with Caitlin Foord coming closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting the crossbar twice with one shot just before the break.
The Australian unleashed a ferocious effort from 25 yards that slammed against the crossbar and flew directly up into the air before dropping back down onto the woodwork, giving Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger the chance to punch the ball clear.
Emma Hayes introduced an Aussie of her own at the break in the form of Sam Kerr but it was the hosts who applied the more significant pressure.
Both defences remained resolute however until Kerr almost went through on goal, only for Katie McCabe to come across and make a sliding recovery tackle to deny her.
Harder had a close-range effort blocked on 72 minutes as it looked destined to end goalless.
But with five minutes left Vivianne Miedema burst into life using her pace to get past Millie Bright and sensibly square the ball for Mead to volley home on the penalty spot.
The hosts looked destined for the top of the Barclays FA WSL table but the champions had other ideas as Wubben-Moy, who had been otherwise brilliant, turned the ball into her own net.
There was little the defender could do about it either as Harder’s attempt to get the ball into the box hit her and looped up over everybody including Manuela Zinsberger.
A point each sees Manchester United finish Women’s Football Weekend top of the table after they shared points with Manchester City themselves.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said: “The game played out the way I thought it would.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that when you play a team that have just been beaten by Manchester United and lost to us six times in a row – then at some point their manager was going to get the response he was looking for.
“I think it was an average performance but an unbelievable point for us because these are the games I fear. I thought Kim Little was outstanding today.
“It was difficult when we didn’t get hold of the second balls in the game. Pernille Harder missed a great opportunity earlier but that run she creates late on creates a little bit of luck.
“It never goes according to plan and I was thinking to myself ‘there’s been all draws this weekend’ but I’m happy to pick a point up in the end.”
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