Sam Kerr savours historic Chelsea goal against Leicester
Ian Chadband
Sam Kerr is enjoying what she believes to be the most special goal of her career as she becomes Chelsea’s all-time top scorer in the English Women’s Super League.
Kerr’s 64th goal in the WSL sparked Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday and ensured the Blues secured third place in the Champions League next season.
But it was too late for Manchester City to stop the Blues from claiming the WSL English title; Mary Fowler celebrates after coming on as a late substitute and watches teammate Rebecca Knaak’s brilliant stoppage-time winner score a 1-0 win at Liverpool that takes them to the brink of victory.
Kerr, whose future at Chelsea after this season is still in doubt amid rumors that he will play in the NSWL with Denver Summit, appeared emotional as he talked about his deft 13th-minute header, which saw former team-mate Fran Kirby’s club breakthrough pass.
“There have been some very special goals in my career, but I don’t know if it can get any more special than this,” Kerr said afterwards.
Chelsea fans want the club’s talismanic striker to stay and hope he doesn’t give them a farewell bow when he told the club
Kerr is finishing the season on a really strong note and looks to be performing increasingly well after his long absence due to an ACL injury.
He could have broken the record last week if short-sighted officials had not missed his header that crossed the line to complete his hat-trick against Everton.
However, on the 2296th day of his first goal for Chelsea, no one had any doubts when he converted Niamh Charles’ cross from the left into a goal. Lauren James then added a stunning double inside the first six minutes.
“I probably didn’t play as much as I wanted to at the start of the season, but once I got into the rhythm and took control of the games, you saw me start scoring goals,” Kerr, 32, said.
“I didn’t score as many goals in the league as I wanted, but it’s great to come back from ACL and still be the league’s top scorer for a club like Chelsea.”
Man City struggled at the Joie Stadium but came to the brink of a first WSL title in a decade with Knaak’s header curling under Liverpool goalkeeper Jennifer Falk in the first of six added minutes.
A win at West Ham on the last day will bring Arsenal their first championship in 10 years, despite winning the previous three games.
Emily van Egmond’s Leicester, who sit at the bottom of the table, will face Charlton, who finished third in the WSL2, in the relegation play-off.
Tottenham survived a late scare by defeating London City 2-1, despite the Lionesses’ Australian international Alanna Kennedy scoring in the 90th minute.
AAP
