Kerr's Triumphant Return to Chelsea Starting Lineup
Australian football superstar Sam Kerr has marked her first start for Chelsea in almost two years with a spectacular double, emphatically declaring herself fully fit and ready for increased playing time. The Matildas captain completed her remarkable comeback after recent international appearances against Wales and England in late October.
Kerr's long-awaited club start came in Chelsea's Champions League clash against Austrian tournament debutants St Poelten, where she led the line for the entire 94 minutes in a dominant 6-0 victory. The performance provides encouraging signs for Australia's upcoming Asian Cup campaign in March.
Building Momentum With Crucial Minutes
"It feels good. It felt like I had to work myself into it but yeah, happy to score," Kerr told Disney Plus after the match. The 32-year-old acknowledged her preference for more minutes while expressing satisfaction with her current progress.
Kerr emphasized her complete recovery, stating: "I feel 100 per cent but I was out for a while, so I have to build myself up." She described the match as "a good set" following her recent national team appearances, confirming she's "definitely fit enough" and ready for the challenges ahead.
Clinical Finish After Patient Build-up
After enduring a frustrating night, Kerr finally broke through by taking a pass from Dutch midfielder Wieke Kaptein on the turn and slotting calmly across goalkeeper Carina Schlüter. This marked her first Champions League goal since late 2023.
The Australian captain wasn't finished there, adding a second in added time with a cushioned header that sailed past the goalkeeper to complete the scoring. Her brace came either side of a Lisa Ebert own goal, demonstrating Chelsea's complete dominance.
Reflecting on her return to scoring form after also finding the net in the Women's Super League two weekends ago against London City Lionesses, Kerr admitted: "It feels a bit sweeter but it feels a bit weird. I didn't score for so long that I was like I haven't celebrated, really."
Australian Contingent Shines Across Europe
The match saw strong Australian involvement from the outset, with Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter setting up the opening goal for Kaptein in the 13th minute. Brazilian-born American forward Catarina Macario had already made it 2-0 by halftime before converting a penalty in the 53rd minute.
Elsewhere in European competition, Carpenter's former side Lyon secured a 3-1 victory over German powerhouse Wolfsburg, though Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah remained on the bench for the French hosts.
Another Matildas defender, Wini Heatley, played a full match in Roma's 1-0 home defeat to Valerenga, while in Spain, Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Paris FC.
Kerr's successful return and declaration of full fitness provides a massive boost for both Chelsea and the Matildas as important competitions approach, with the Australian captain clearly relishing her return to top-level football.
