Late Equalizer from Williams Snatches Draw for Manchester United at Brighton

Manchester United’s knack for salvaging points from trailing positions is unrivaled this season, now having amassed six points in such scenarios.

In a turn of events characteristic of a Hollywood blockbuster, Rachel Williams emerged as Manchester United’s savior, firing in an equalizer deep into injury time to secure a draw with Brighton in the Women’s Super League.

The reputation of United for pulling off late-show heroics continues to grow, and Williams has been at the heart of this, now boasting her fourth goal as a super-sub this campaign.

Williams, post-match with Sky Sports, joked, “I might as well make a tradition of it.” She added, “The moment I’m off the bench, I’m all in to make a difference, and it seems to work out. It’s all a whirlwind really, but once again, I’ve managed to find the net.”

The game saw Brighton pull ahead around the half-hour mark when Maisie Symonds’ perfect pass found Elisabeth Terland, who composedly slotted the ball into the net beyond Mary Earps.

Ella Toone’s spectacular 78th-minute effort brought the scores level, only for Guro Bergsvand to seemingly snatch the win for Brighton with a last-minute header.

Nonetheless, Manchester United showed their tenacity, fighting to the end, which allowed Williams to step off the bench and grab a vital point. Despite the comeback, United’s manager Marc Skinner expressed his dissatisfaction with the draw.

“You strive for the full three points. When you create as many opportunities as we did, you must capitalize,” he expressed to Sky Sports.

“We need to expect more from ourselves. Sure, the comeback is commendable, but ideally, we wouldn’t need to come back at all. We should have netted five or six today, so we have to acknowledge our shortcomings and aim higher.

“In such a crucial match, you need to show immense character and take responsibility when you don’t capitalize on dominating an opponent. The frustration should be channeling into our next performance, not just sulking. I’m looking forward to a strong response from the team.”

Following this result, United finds themselves in sixth place, just a point shy of breaking into the top three, while Brighton sits in ninth, maintaining a four-point cushion from relegation concerns.

United’s Unbeaten Streak Continues Despite Missed Chances

United’s unbeaten run now stretches to 12 WSL games, and their unwavering belief in snatching points from the jaws of defeat remains a formidable trait.

The game proved to be a tough one for Skinner’s team, who started off on the right foot but failed to capitalize on their chances.

Brighton’s goal seemed to galvanize United, who thereafter wasted numerous opportunities to take the lead.

Geyse, United’s Brazilian striker, hit the woodwork, while a last-second block by Bergsvand denied Melvine Malard’s attempt to find Leah Galton, who also missed a chance by heading over the bar.

With a need for a sharper offensive edge, summer acquisition Geyse, who was brought in to fill the shoes of the prolific England forward Alessia Russo who departed for Arsenal, is still finding her footing.

United was left puzzled over their failure to level the score at 1-0 when Brighton’s goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley delivered an astounding double save – first deflecting Hannah Blundell’s long-range shot onto the bar and then promptly denying Millie Turner from close range.

Earlier in the week, Skinner guaranteed a return to form for Toone, who had been waiting for a goal contribution this season. Her sublime curler from outside the box will undoubtedly boost the England forward’s confidence as she gels with the new additions to the club.

The final moments of the match were nothing short of chaotic, with both teams making crucial saves and striking the frame of the goal.

But it’s become a recurring narrative for United with Williams consistently delivering in the clutch moments, and she didn’t disappoint, rescuing her team once more.

Williams, who is the leading goal scorer for United this season with four goals in five appearances without starting any, humorously remarked, “Seems like the starting lineup is one door that’s staying shut on me.”

“My plan is to keep pushing in training and hopefully, the gaffer will give me a nod. My commitment is to the squad week in, week out,” she further stated.

Brighton Misses the Mark as Manchester United Salvage a Late Point

The Brighton squad, visibly disheartened at the whistle, will view this as a squandered chance, yet manager Melissa Phillips can draw optimism from the resilience and flashes of brilliance her team exhibited.

Brighton’s offensive looked threatening; Earps was called into action for a vital save from Jorelyn Carabali’s clear header, and Pauline Bremer was unlucky when her attempt hit the crossbar from an acute angle.

Following Toone’s leveler, Brighton showed ambition in their quest to regain the lead, not settling for just one point.

However, their defensive record remains a blemish, with only one clean sheet in their last 31 outings, a disappointing statistic dating back to April 2022, and only a single victory to their name this season.

They now brace for another tough encounter when they travel to face Manchester City next Sunday, while United will play host to West Ham.

Squad Lists, Match Statistics, and Play-by-Play

• Home Team: Brighton Women
• Away Team: Man Utd Women

Possession

• Brighton: 37%
• Man Utd: 63%

Shots

• Brighton: 12
• Man Utd: 23

Shots on Target

• Brighton: 7
• Man Utd: 7

Corners

• Brighton: 7
• Man Utd: 8

Fouls

• Brighton: 6
• Man Utd: 5

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Manchester United Brighton draw

More about Manchester United Brighton draw

• Manchester United’s Late Equalizer
• WSL Standings After Man Utd’s Draw
• United’s Comeback Habits
• Ella Toone’s Stunning Strike
• Rachel Williams: Super-Sub