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Sam Kerr Waits on Comeback as Chelsea Beats Man City in WSL Opener

The Australia captain was an unused substitute after 20 months out with an ACL injury.

Overview

  • Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor included Kerr in the matchday squad but did not bring her on in the 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
  • The striker has not played since an ACL tear in January 2024, marking roughly 20 months on the sidelines.
  • Bompastor had said it was undecided whether Kerr would start or come off the bench and urged patience with her return.
  • New signing Ellie Carpenter impressed on debut, creating Aggie Beever-Jones’s opening goal and earning player-of-the-match honors.
  • Kerr stays on 99 Chelsea goals, with her phased reintegration viewed as a boost for the Matildas ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup.