Sam Kerr has rebounded in style from the Matildas’ Asian Cup final disappointment by spearheading Chelsea’s crucial Women’s Super League victory over Aston Villa.
The Australian captain scored a superb first-half goal and linked up with Australia teammate Ellie Carpenter to create the Blues’ late winner for Sjoeke Nüsken in a thrilling 4-3 victory at their Kingsmeadow home.
The goal ensured the champions just about managed to cling on to their distant hopes of retaining the crown but, more importantly, boosted their push for Champions League qualification.
Eight days on and 17,000 kilometres away from the scene of last weekend’s final defeat to Japan in Sydney, Kerr and Carpenter both looked sharp after their exhausting tournament.
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Bompastor decided to start Kerr for only the second time in her post-injury comeback season, during which she has featured 13 times off the bench.
And she was rewarded when 32-year-old Kerr netted her third WSL goal this season, and 11th in all competitions as the Blues’ leading 2025-26 scorer.
After Chasity Grant had given Villa a surprise lead, Kerr equalised in the 20th minute, latching on to Nüsken’s pinpoint through ball, beating the offside trap and firing left-footed past goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.
It was Kerr’s first league goal since November and it kick-started the Blues, who quickly went further ahead with a glancing header from Naomi Girma and a brilliant left-foot strike from player of the match Lauren James.
But Chelsea nerves were left jangling as a quickfire double in the space of three minutes from Villa’s Kirsty Hanson left the scores locked at 3-3 at the break.
Chelsea laboured for a winner after half-time but, in the 82nd minute, a neatly timed midfield interception from Carpenter saw her find Kerr, who with back to goal, teed up Nüsken perfectly to curl home the winner.
“[There was] a lot of joy and some relief,” coach Sonia Bompastor said.
“We are fighting for Champions League places and this win is huge. You could see the celebrations after the winning goal reflected that.”
Even though the win moves Chelsea back into second on 40 points, the gap to leaders Manchester City is still nine points with only three matches left.
Arsenal is third on 38 points, but with two games in hand.
Kerr looks to be in fine form as Chelsea seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit against Arsenal in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday morning AEST.
AAP