Lea Schüller recorded her inaugural Women's Super League goal for Manchester United, securing a late point as Marc Skinner's side settled for a 1-1 draw against Brighton at Leigh Sports Village. United entered the match hoping to climb back into the top three, but in what turned out to be their final home fixture of the campaign, they delivered a lackluster performance. Brighton, who have recently stunned league leaders Manchester City and Champions League holders Arsenal in the FA Cup, came close to achieving another historic victory.
Brighton's Jelena Canković, aged 39, opened the scoring, marking the first WSL goal at Old Trafford for the Seagulls. Her strike put Brighton in a strong position to claim all three points, but Schüller's equaliser in stoppage time restored parity and forced the teams to share the spoils.
The draw further erodes United's already fragile hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. The Red Devils have managed only one win in their last five league outings and now have a single match remaining against Chelsea.
They sit a point behind third-placed Arsenal, who enjoy three games in hand, and three points adrift of second-placed Chelsea, who still have two fixtures left. With the season winding down, every point becomes crucial, and United's inability to secure a win against a lower-ranked opponent highlights the challenges they face in closing the gap on the European places. For Brighton, the next test comes swiftly.
They travel to face Arsenal in a midweek WSL clash that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Following that, they will turn their attention to an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool scheduled for Sunday, May 10. The Brighton squad will need to maintain the momentum from their strong performances against top clubs, while also addressing the defensive lapses that allowed United to equalise late in the game. Manchester United manager Marc Skinner spoke about Schüller's development and the importance of supplying quality service to the forwards.
He said, "It's not about confidence with Lea. She understands, and I've been really clear with her, that we need to supply [her] in that box. I think it'll be great for her confidence, but I also don't think it was the thing that she holds on to." Skinner emphasized that Schüller is still adapting to a new team environment, noting, "She's in a new team. I've told her and Ellen [Wangerheim], it's going to take six months of learning.
Join in the winter and you'll be ready to go next season." He added that consistent delivery into the penalty area would unlock her goal-scoring potential: "If we service Lea in the box, she'll score lots and lots of goals." Skinner also acknowledged that United have struggled with creating clear-cut chances for Schüller, stating, "She's been missing service. We've changed our style with the recruitment that we've had to make.
And we've played really well and we're really fresh. But if we can't get up the pitch to give her support, there's no point just pumping the ball long and expecting her to hold it up." He drew a comparison to teammate Elisabeth Terland, suggesting that a similar supply route could yield a prolific scoring record for Schüller. Brighton's head coach Dario Vidošić expressed disappointment with his side's second-half display, describing it as a missed opportunity. "It's disappointing and I'm quite frustrated, especially by the second-half performance.
It feels a bit like we have thrown away two points rather than United taking it away from us," he said. Vidošić highlighted that Brighton had dominated the first half, creating a quality goal from a press and generating several half-chances that should have been converted. However, he admitted that the team's composure faltered after halftime. "In the second half when we calmed things down and passed the ball we created a really good chance which we weren't able to put away and after that I'd describe it as quite an immature performance by us," he added.
Both managers agreed that the match offered lessons to be reviewed. Vidošić promised that the team would work on their shortcomings ahead of a crucial encounter with Arsenal, while Skinner reiterated his belief that United's attacking potential will blossom once the service to Schüller improves. Looking ahead, United's final league match against Chelsea will be decisive. A win could propel them back into contention for a Champions League spot, but a slip would likely consign them to a lower finish.
Meanwhile, Brighton's upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Liverpool present an opportunity to cement their reputation as giant‑killers this season. Fans can stay updated with live highlights, free streaming options, and the latest league table through official channels.
The Women's Super League continues to deliver excitement, with every match influencing the race for European qualification and domestic silverware.