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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.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


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