Matildas star Sam Kerr forced off after scoring a hat-trick for Chelsea

Matildas pair Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord hit the target as their respective Chelsea and Arsenal teams celebrated wins.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr scored a hat-trick for Chelsea but was forced off after injuring herself while celebrating in her side’s 3-2 English FA Women’s Super League win over West Ham.

Kerr showed no mercy towards her Matildas teammate, West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, as she scored three goals to help maintain Chelsea’s unbeaten start to their league campaign.

However, Kerr reportedly suffered a slight hip injury after crashing into a West Ham defender while celebrating her third goal.

“I don’t know about (Kerr’s) injury,” Chelsea coach Emma Hayes said.

“Sam is a great team player. We work behind the scenes to make sure Sam recognises her role, but I could say the same about others.”

🙌 @SamKerr1 enjoyed herself today! 😁#CFCW pic.twitter.com/eEtNjHFt4i

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) December 6, 2020

West Ham coach Billy Stewart praised the performance of keeper Arnold.

“Mackenzie Arnold had a great game,” Stewart said.

“We will look at the goals and analyse it as a team, but certainly I thought she had a fantastic game.”

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr scores past her Matildas teammate and West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. Picture: James Chance/Getty Images

The West Ham side also included Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond, whose struggling side have lost six of their eight league matches this season.

Kerr wasn’t the only Matilda to score on the weekend, with Caitlin Foord finding the back of the net in second-placed Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Birmingham City.

Caitlin Foord (centre) heads home Arsenal’s first goal in their 3-0 win over Birmingham City. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal’s Australian coach Joe Montemurro said: “These games are really important for the whole package of the year and what we’re trying to achieve, and we’ve shown great character.

“We had a lot of opportunities, a lot of good opportunities, but you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net – that’s the reality.”

There was also good news for another Matilda, Alanna Kennedy, whose Tottenham side beat Brighton 3-1.

The win was Tottenham’s first league victory of the season.

Tottenham coach Rehanne Skinner said: “Given all the work we’ve done over the past few weeks, I always believed we would have a response today.”