Lea Schuller's first Women's Super League goal for Manchester United snatched a late point as Marc Skinner's side drew 1-1 with Brighton at Leigh Sports Village.
United were looking to move back into the top three with a victory but - in their final home game of the season - they produced a lacklustre display as Brighton, who in recent weeks have beaten WSL league leaders Man City and Champions League holders Arsenal in the FA Cup, went within minutes of another historic win.
Jelena Cankovic (39) scored Brighton's first WSL goal at Man Utd, and it was almost enough to secure the three points, but Schuller's stoppage-time equaliser meant the spoils were shared.
It is a result that further dents United's slim hopes of Champions League qualification. United, who have just one win in their last five, have only one league game remaining against Chelsea and they are a point behind third-placed Arsenal, who have three games in hand, and three points behind the second-placed Blues, who have two games left.
For Brighton, next up for them is a WSL game against Arsenal, live on Your Site in midweek, before they can turn their attention to an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Sunday May 10.
Man Utd boss Marc Skinner on goalscorer Lea Schuller and providing the right service for the forwards:
"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.
"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.
"[If] we service Lea in the box, she'll score lots and lots of goals.
"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.
"If we can get [the ball] to Lea Schuller in the box, just like [Elisabeth Terland], we will score lots and lots of goals."
Brighton boss Dario Vidosic:
"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.
"We can't be at that level only for 45 minutes and expect to win.
"In the first half we were the better team. We scored a good goal from our press which was something we had been working on and had a couple of other half chances where we should have done better.
"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.
"But we will review it and work on things. We've got a big week so we will see how everyone is and then prepare for a big game against Arsenal on Wednesday."
