Guro Reiten’s 96th-minute equaliser denied the nine women of Manchester City victory in an eventful WSL contest that saw referee Emily Heaslip take centre stage.
The Suffolk official showed 11 yellow cards, including one to City manager Gareth Taylor, a haul which included dismissals for Alex Greenwood, after 38 minutes, and Lauren Hemp, nine minutes from the end of normal time.
Heaslip was escorted off by security at the end of the game, as home supporters voiced their disapproval, having played 13 minutes of added time, during which Reiten had levelled an early goal from Chloe Kelly.
“If the referees are consistent with these new rules, you are going to have a lot of games like that,” said Taylor. “I felt the same last weekend when there were two red cards [against West Ham].
“We’ve gone from here to here with how we interpret these rules. There were 11 yellows and two reds and it was not malicious game at all.
“I just think, let’s move it a little bit slower. If not, we’re going to have an eight-a-side league, if they’re consistent. I don’t think it just ruined it for me, it did for everyone. I spoke to Emma [Hayes] midway through the half-time and we just looked at each other.
“We’ve had three cards in two games so if you hadn’t seen us, you would think we’re a dirty team, but nobody who has seen us is going to think that. I’d just like to keep 11 players on the pitch.”
The most contentious moment came after 38 minutes when Greenwood, booked earlier for a foul on Jessie Fleming, was cautioned for time wasting as she prepared to take a free-kick deep in the City half.
Estimates put the delay at 26 seconds, between Heaslip blowing for the City free-kick and dismissing the defender who, genuinely, appeared to be waiting for team-mates to move upfield.
It was a decision that infuriated the sell-out crowd at the Joie Stadium and the home players, whose discipline went with Greenwood. Kelly and Laia Aleixandri were booked in the immediate aftermath of the red and Jill Roord after the half-time whistle blew.
By the time Hemp was booked, on 67 minutes, for another outburst, Heaslip had shown a total of eight yellows, with City contributing one for time-wasting and four for dissent.
The carnage was not over and, after 81 minutes, Hemp was booked for a foul on Lauren James, collecting a yellow card which reduced City to nine, with Taylor quickly joining his players in the book for dissent of his own.
The official’s erratic performance dominated what should have been a showcase early-season encounter between two potential WSL champions.
It began with Kelly’s goal, as Taylors’ team made a terrific, offensive opening, with Zecira Musovic forced into good early saves from Roord and Hemp.
After seven minutes, Mary Fowler’s pass was blocked by Niamh Charles into the path of Kelly whose 20-yard shot deflected off Jess Carter before looping over Musovic into the Chelsea goal.
Chelsea had finally begun to create chances by the time they gained the one-player advantage although it was not until the closing stages that they truly troubled impressive teenage goalkeeper Khiara Keating.
After 78 minutes, James struck the cross-bar from 25 yards with an effort that finally beat Keating and the chances continued into added time, with Millie Bright heading against the bar on 93 minutes.
Moments later, City were momentarily reduced to eight, when Alanna Kennedy suffered an attack of cramp, and Chelsea finally made their advantage tell from Jelena Cankovic’s delivery.
Keating made an amazing save to deny Bright’s header, a shot from Melanie Leupolz was blocked and Reiten finally had time to scramble the ball through a sea of bodies over the line.
Sam Kerr headed against the post, Chelsea’s third such near miss, although Hayes was ultimately relived to escape with the point.
“Does it ruin the game? Of course it does,” she said. “But it’s easy to attack the officials. They were clear in what they expect from us and the players and I think they have applied it in both our games so far.”
