Sam Kerr the Hero: Aussie Superstar Scores Winner to Send Chelsea into Champions League Quarterfinals!
- Matildas captain Sam Kerr nets 20th Champions League goal with stunning looping header
- Chelsea comes from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 and secure quarterfinal spot
- Kerr’s return to form a huge boost for Australia ahead of the Asian Cup
In a thrilling comeback win, Matildas skipper Sam Kerr proved once again why she’s one of the world’s top players, scoring the winner to send Chelsea into the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals. Kerr’s brilliant looping header in the 45th minute sealed a 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg, as Chelsea came from behind to win.
Kerr, who became the first Australian and only the second Chelsea player to reach 20 Champions League goals, was overwhelmed with emotion after the match. “It’s been good,” she said, still trying to process the enormity of her achievement. “It’s been obviously a little bit tricky. Every player wants to play all the time and I’ve had to be managed a little bit, which has been difficult.”
But Kerr’s determination and perseverance paid off, as she shrugged off her marker to nod home the winner. “I felt good now — the last couple of weeks especially I’ve felt more like myself and obviously still have to be patient with myself,” she added. “But I’ve felt much better and enjoying being back out there and just playing football rather than thinking about making sure I’m staying fit.”
The victory was a testament to Chelsea’s never-say-die attitude, as they trailed 1-0 at halftime after Wolfsburg’s Alexandra Popp capitalised on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Livia Peng. But Lucy Bronze equalised just before the break, and Kerr’s winner sent the Chelsea bench into raptures.
The win means Chelsea, along with Barcelona, Lyon, and Bayern Munich, progresses directly to the quarterfinals. Fellow Matilda Teagan Micah was an unused substitute as Lyon beat Atletico Madrid 4-0, while Arsenal, featuring Aussie trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, and Kyra Cooney-Cross, finished fifth and will enter the play-offs.