Kerr ‘swagger’ lifts Chelsea to take revenge on Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Australia striker Sam Kerr had her best game in a Chelsea shirt, according to manager Emma Hayes, as she scored one goal and set up another in this quarter-final first leg.
Chelsea’s marquee signing in November 2019 was one of their key acquisitions in their quest to win a first European title and the 27-yearold delivered on the big stage to help them claim a first victory over nemesis Wolfsburg.
The German side, who have won the European title twice and have been runners-up three times, including last season, have knocked Chelsea out three times, winning all of their previous meetings.
The tie remains finely balanced, given that Wolfsburg have an away goal, but Hayes was delighted with
Kerr’s contribution. “[That was her] best game in a Chelsea shirt,” she said. “I thought she looked relaxed, calm and enjoyed the occasion.
“She held the ball up well and had a swagger. She took the game to Wolfsburg, did what the team needed and showed why she’s such an important part of our squad.”
Hayes also had reason to praise Ann-katrin Berger, her goalkeeper, whose magnificent reaction save kept out Fridolina Rolfo’s volley from Alexandra Popp’s hanging cross in the second half, having earlier been in good form to keep the scores level at the interval.
“First of all, that’s what a goalkeeper’s job is, to make saves. However, she’s the best in the world,” Hayes said. “She’s amazing.”
Wolfsburg created the greater chances and were unfortunate that both Ewa Pajor and Popp hit the post, but when asked if her side rode their luck, Hayes said: “You have to recognise they [Wolfsburg] have been so dominant for so many years, along with [seven-time champions] Lyon. They’re always going to have the upper hand on the English sides right now because of those years of experience. I expected them to dominate the chances, like they did, so I’m grateful that we only conceded one away goal.”
That away goal came from the penalty spot, as former Arsenal defender Dominique Janssen beat Berger after Svenja Huth had been fouled by Magdalena Eriksson. But that came after Chelsea had already carved out a priceless two-goal lead against the run of play.
First, Fran Kirby slipped Kerr free in the area and she took a clever touch round the goalkeeper, turned and fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
The second goal came after calamitous defending from Wolfsburg. Poland goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek’s loose pass was intercepted by Kirby, who found Kerr, who in turn rolled the ball across the box for Pernille Harder to score against her old club.
The arrival of the Denmark forward last summer for a worldrecord fee has helped give Chelsea the best chance to date of ending Britain’s wait for a first women’s European finalist since Arsenal in 2007, but Hayes remains very conscious of Wolfsburg’s pedigree.
“They’re still a top team,” Hayes said. “We were spirited, with a lot of good performances. We gave them a game and I’m happy about that.”
Chelsea (4-3-3) Berger; Charles, Bright, Eriksson, Andersson; Leupolz, Ingle, Ji (Cuthbert 74); Kirby (Reiten 80), Kerr, Harder. Subs Musovic (g), Telford (g), Blundell, Carter, Fleming, Spence, Fox, Beever-jones.
Booked Charles, Leupolz.
Wolfsburg (4-3-3) Kiedrzynek; Hendrich, Doorsounkhajeh, Janssen, Rauch; Engen, Popp, Oberdorf; Huth, Pajor (Jakabfi 76), Rolfo (Blomqvist 66) Subs Schult (g), Abt (g), Blasse, Saevik, Svava, Wolter, Dickenmann, Van de Sanden, Wedemeyer, Goessling. Booked Oberdorf, Doorsoun-khajeh, Popp.
Referee Jana Adamkova (Czech Republic).