Engman’s late strike spares Chelsea’s blushes after Whelan looked to have claimed famous Brighton win

ADELINA ENGMAN’S goal in added time spared Chelsea’s blushes by the seaside. Brighton stunned the league giants with Aileen Whelan’s shock strike in the 84th minute. The Seagulls, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, were often too much to handle for a lacklustre Chelsea side. Their goal came from a silky passing move which led […]

ADELINA ENGMAN’S goal in added time spared Chelsea’s blushes by the seaside.

Brighton stunned the league giants with Aileen Whelan’s shock strike in the 84th minute.

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The Seagulls, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, were often too much to handle for a lacklustre Chelsea side.

Their goal came from a silky passing move which led to Whelan steering a superb shot past Ann-Katrin Berger.

But heartbreak for the underdogs and relief for Chelsea came minutes later when supersub Engman rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Whelan said: “Everyone ruled us out of this game so it was good to show the league what we can do.

“You can tell the desire of all the girls to prove a point that this is our home ground and we’ve got to make it our fortress so no one is going to come here and get an easy three points.

“We were devastated when their goal went in but to keep Chelsea out for 90-odd minutes is something in itself and we came away with a point, which we wouldn’t have done last year.”

Chelsea, who had the WSL, Champions League and FA Cup trophies all in their sights last year, looked a shadow of the side they once were.

But, as expected, they had the edge in the first half.

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Heartbreak for Brighton and relief for Chelsea came minutes later when supersub Engman rifled the ball into the roof of the net[/caption]

Lionesses defender Millie Bright worked the first chance in the 17th minute but, after a great run, her skied effort in front of an open goal was closer to the seagulls flying above than the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Brighton needed to call new signing Megan Walsh — who made the most saves in the WSL last ­season — into action.

The star keeper denied Beth England after a low shot which inched agonisingly wide of the post.

England opened up another chance for the Blues in the 30th minute. The striker’s pin-point pass found Erin Cuthbert in front of an open goal but the Scotland international lost her footing and was unable to make the crucial touch.

Brighton were rattled and defender Victoria Williams almost headed the ball into her own net in an attempt to clear.

After a flat first half, the game was screaming for a goal to liven things up — and Brighton came out fired up after the break.

With six minutes to go, Whelan broke the deadlock after a neat one-two with Holland defender Danique Kerkdijk.

But Engman had the final say with an unstopp-able shot from six yards out after a Bright knockdown.