Praise for Sam Kerr after her four-goal heroics against Jamaica
Matildas teammates and even opposition figures have joined in praise of Sam Kerr after her four-goal haul against Jamaica.
Teammates say she’s a joke, and not in a bad way.
So much for Sam Kerr not challenging for the Women’s World Cup golden boot.
A record four goals on one day was enough to lift Australia’s superstar striker level on five with United States equivalent Alex Morgan.
And the rest of the squad were appropriately approving of Kerr’s haul to beat Jamaica 4-1 and sneak them into the top two by a single goal.
“She actually said she was due for a hat-trick,” said Caitlin Foord.
“So she got one today and got four.”
Former US World Cup-winner Heather O’Reilly branded Kerr “a bad lady”, while Matildas vice-captain Steph Catley labelled her “a joke”.
“She just shows up, doesn’t she,” Catley said.
“Whenever you need her she’s a superhero like that. We are very lucky to have her on our team.
“Having said that, the rest of the players did their job and got the ball to her head.”
That was certainly the case, but there was one woman on the end of it every time.
And the girl who grew up watching Tim Cahill put away two trademark headers in the first half before finishing the Jamaicans off with two close-range efforts in the second.
“And I actually wanted more after that, being my selfish self,” Kerr said.
The 25-year-old has certainly scored prettier goals than her fourth - pouncing on a hashed clearance by second-choice by Jamaica goalkeeper Nicole McClure - but maybe not one more important.
Brazil had just scored against Italy in the concurrent Group C game and Australia, leading 3-1, were headed for a third-place finish and round-of-16 match-up against heavyweights France or Germany.
“At the time I didn’t know how important it was,” she said.
“I knew every goal would count and I’m just happy we could get that second spot.”
KERR’S WORLD CUP RECORDS
* First Australian to score a hat-trick at a senior World Cup
* Only Michelle Akers (USA, 1991) and Alex Morgan (USA, 2019) have scored more goals in a single match
* Most goals for Australia at a single edition of the tournament (beating Lisa De Vanna’s four goals in 2007)
* Australia’s equal biggest Women’s World Cup win (4-1 against Ghana, 2007)
Winds of change! Aussie sailor blazing new trail in America’s Cup waters
Growing up Annie Wilmot was surrounded by America’s Cup sailors and one very famous history-making uncle. Now she’s a Cup trailblazer herself.
Aussie quartet make sailing history with win in women’s America’s Cup
For the first time in 174 years Australian women have set sail in an America’s Cup. How the quartet on Andoo Australia are faring as the Pool B Racing begins.