'Tremendous strides': Sam Kerr scores as Matildas thrive in England top-tier
Sam Kerr opened her 2020-21 FA Women's Super League account as nine Australians featured in the first round of England's top-tier competition on Sunday.
The Matildas captain scored Chelsea's only goal in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, making a fine run and throwing herself past her defender to prod home Fran Kirby's pinpoint cross in the 25th minute.
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Kerr had come under criticism in England for a wasteful performance in the previous week's Community Shield against Manchester City.
Against United, the 26-year-old played 65 minutes and had multiple opportunities to increase her tally.
Sam Kerr scores against Manchester United.
Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley star for Arsenal.
Debuts galore.
Watch out #FAWSL, the Aussies have arrived. 🇦🇺👊#OptusSport— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) September 7, 2020
Sam Kerr = Jet pic.twitter.com/p9MejH4b84
— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) September 7, 2020
I’m watching Sam Kerr playing for Chelsea on TV from Portland Oregon. Couldn’t have imagined this five years ago. The women’s game is making tremendous strides.
— Anne M. Peterson (@AnnieMPeterson) September 6, 2020
Kerr had the ball in the net in the 29th minute - only for it to be ruled offside - while she headed wide in the 39th and put a chance over the bar early in the second half.
She was made to rue her misses when United's Leah Galton equalised in the 79th minute.
Fellow Australians Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord enjoyed fine WSL debuts in Arsenal's 6-1 win over Reading.
On her starting debut for Australian coach Joe Montemurro's Gunners, Catley played 69 minutes and played a key role in Arsenal's second goal.
When Catley made way as part of a triple change, Foord entered the game and provided assists for Arsenal's final two goals, with the Gunners topping the table at round's end.
Goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle) was unavailable.
Matildas shine in FA Women’s League
Three Matildas featured in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Hammers goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold played the full game with teammate Emily van Egmond coming off the bench in the 54th minute, while Spurs centre-back Alanna Kennedy debuted 14 minutes later.
After signing for Everton back in January, winger Hayley Raso finally made a delayed league debut, playing 71 minutes in the Toffees' 4-0 win over Bristol City.
Midfield duo Chloe Logarzo and Ella Mastrantonio played the full game on debut for Bristol, who are coached by Australian Tanya Oxtoby.
Meanwhile, young gun Ellie Carpenter made her starting debut for French powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais.
Following star England defender Lucy Bronze's departure, Carpenter slotted straight into her spot at right-back and played the full game in a 4-0 win over Paris FC.
Carpenter also won a penalty, which Eugenie Le Sommer converted for Lyon's third goal.
Elsewhere in France, teenager Mary Fowler played 64 minutes for Montpellier against FC Fleury, who left Emma Checker on the bench.
Defender Laura Brock played 34 minutes off the bench in EA Guingamp's 4-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
