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Matildas captain Sam Kerr wins Golden Boot as Chelsea secures Super League title

Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s 21st goal of the English WSL season helped Chelsea secure the title and sealed her Golden Boot triumph.

Sam Kerr (right) celebrates with Millie Bright, Erin Cuthbert and Carly Telford after Chelsea secure the English Women's Super League title. Picture: Henry Browne/Getty Images
Sam Kerr (right) celebrates with Millie Bright, Erin Cuthbert and Carly Telford after Chelsea secure the English Women's Super League title. Picture: Henry Browne/Getty Images
NCA NewsWire

It was a special case of “job done” for prolific Matildas captain Sam Kerr after she won another Golden Boot and helped Chelsea retain the English Women’s Super League title with a 5-0 thrashing of Reading.

Kerr’s 21st goal of her stellar WSL campaign came in the 71st minute of Chelsea’s romp at Kingsmeadow.

She has now won Golden Boots in competitions in Australia (Perth Glory), the United States (Chicago Red Stars) and England.

“The most important thing is that we won the title, but coming over from America, I’m not going to lie, this feels pretty good,” Kerr said after her latest leading goalscorer gong.

“This probably means the most to me out of all my Golden Boots. I feel like a lot of people said I had to come to Europe to prove myself and here it is.

Chelsea star and Aussie Sam Kerr battles Reading’s Deanna Cooper. Picture: Henry Browne/Getty Images
Chelsea star and Aussie Sam Kerr battles Reading’s Deanna Cooper. Picture: Henry Browne/Getty Images

“This is my job to help us win titles, so I’m pumped.

“It was always a dream of mine to come to play in Europe, and to continue to score and be a part of this amazing team.”

Chelsea won the title by two points from runners-up Manchester City, while Arsenal, whose squad included Kerr’s Matildas teammates Lydia Williams, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, finished third on 48 points.

Kerr was full of praise for her teammates, particularly fellow attacking weapon Fran Kirby. Between the pair, they have scored 52 goals in all competitions this season.

“I’ll tell anyone who will listen to me how good that girl is. She’s unbelievable, she deserves player of the year in my opinion.” Kerr said of Kirby.

“She’s absolutely incredible, but the whole team ... we don’t do what we do up front without everyone holding their own.

“It’s a team effort but she’s a special player.”

Chelsea manger Emma Hayes told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Winning the league is, I think, the real indicator that you’re the dominant team.

“We’ve controlled what we needed to and we’ve not been chasing all season.”

Hayes also went on social media to salute Chelsea’s supporters.

“To our fans. We love you. This group is special. And I promise you we will do everything we can to keep making you proud. Champions of England,” she tweeted.

Kerr and Chelsea now switch their attention to next week’s Women’s Champions League final in Gothenburg, where they will meet Barcelona.

“We’re still going for more,” Kerr said.

Marco Monteverde
Marco MonteverdeSports reporter

Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/matildas-captain-sam-kerr-scores-again-as-chelsea-secure-english-womens-super-league-title/news-story/b6d24bca097fbbc921cc0fde67f768bb