Substitute Adelina Engman grabbed an injury-time goal to snatch a point for Chelsea in Sussex, as a tireless Brighton & Hove Albion side almost left with all three in an intriguing Barclays FA WSL encounter.

A healthy crowd was treated to beautiful late summer sunshine and an entertaining affair at the People’s Pension Stadium in Crawley and, despite chances for both teams, it seemed neither side would break the deadlock.

But the Seagulls appeared to have earned a victory when Aileen Whelan scored with six minutes to go, only for Engman to pull off her injury-time heroics.

England defender Mille Bright was the first to go close, blazing over from just inside the penalty box when the ball sat up kindly for her and just 90 seconds later Bethany England should have scored when she found herself with time and space in front of Megan Walsh – but promptly dragged her effort wide of the far post.

Chelsea’s opening-day matchwinner, Erin Cuthbert, was then teed up by England, only to have the ball nicked from her toes after waiting a fraction too long and despite the towering efforts of Victoria Williams, Brighton were hanging on.

They eventually found some solidity, jostled on by the combative Danielle Bowman, and fired a warning of their own when Ini Umotong’s persistence saw her win a 50-50 ball, before teeing up Lea Le Garrec. 

The French midfielder hit a rasping drive just wide to serve notice that Hope Powell’s charges were still very much alive.

Even though Brighton soaked up plenty more pressure in the second half – Drew Spence having the best chance, drawing a great, round-the-post, save from Walsh – Whelan delivered a sucker-punch to Chelsea minutes from time.

She pounced on Danique Kerkdijk’s cushioned header to fire a half-volley past Berger and seemingly snatch an unlikely victory for the hosts.

But just when it seemed like the Seagulls had completed a classic ‘smash and grab’ job, Engman prodded home following a goalmouth scramble to keep both team’s unbeaten starts to the new season intact.