Irreplaceable Sam Kerr leaves mark on England in stunning Matildas win

W ith just 100 days until their home World Cup opener against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney, the Matildas pulled off a stunning victory that will ramp up enthusiasm and expectation back home. In ending the 30-game unbeaten run of the world’s most in-form side in England, Tony Gustavsson’s side put in a gutsy performance that displayed all of their mettle and counter-attacking attributes.

On top of all of that, however, one of the main points shining through in west London was the need for the Matildas to protect Sam Kerr at all costs. There will, therefore, be plenty of concern as the Australian captain hobbled off the pitch deep into injury time to be replaced by Alex Chidiac. A problem that in all honesty looked like tiredness more than anything; the forward gave a wry smile as she departed before strapping an ice pack to her knee.

The Matildas’ talisman, with all of her attacking guile and energy, is Australia’s not-so-secret weapon. Without her, as in the defeat to Scotland last Friday, they look like half a team. She is their cutting edge, a player with the tenacity and vision to send shivers through even the world’s best defenders, whose presence forces them into errors they would not normally commit. This was the case in the rain at Brentford, where her pressure caused Leah Williamson, one of the calmest players there is, to fluff her lines at the back.

After a start in which England dominated the possession and chances created, it was Kerr’s goal in the 32nd minute that took the sting out of their tail. Her awareness was exact, the finish deft, as she lifted her shot over the stranded Mary Earps, who had been sold short by a soft header from her captain.

Kerr had stamped her mark on this game, as she so