Chelsea Women 2-0 West Ham Women: Sam Kerr scores on first start of season to help Blues climb top of WSL

Sam Kerr marked his first start of the 2023/24 WSL season by scoring the opening goal in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over West Ham at Kingsmeadow on Saturday evening.

The Australian striker – who was sidelined with a calf injury for much of her home World Cup this summer – scored with a bullet header after 36 minutes, having earlier seen a strike ruled out for offside.

Sam Kerr celebrates after opening the scoring for Chelsea against West Ham
Picture:
Sam Kerr celebrates after opening the scoring for Chelsea against West Ham

West Ham competed well and impressed at times throughout the match, but they lacked a clinical touch, with only two of their 14 attempts on goal hitting the target.

And the hosts sealed the derby victory in the 90th minute, when substitute Erin Cuthbert forced her way through the box and coolly headed home.

Emma Hayes’ Blues go top of the Barclays WSL after continuing their unbeaten run, while the Hammers are eighth with three points from their first three league matches of the season.

More soon…

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Sam Kerr opened the scoring for Chelsea against West Ham with a well-worked move, ending with a magnificent header!

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Lauren James is set to make it 2-0 against Chelsea in their WSL match against West Ham, but it goes agonizingly far.

Team News

  • Chelsea boss Emma Hayes made four changes from the team that started in the 1-1 draw with Man City. Erin Cuthbert, Jessie Fleming, Guro Reiten and Mia Fishel replaced by Melanie Leupolz, Fran Kirby, Maren Mjelde and Sam Kerr.
  • Emma Harries made her first league start at West Ham since her summer move from Reading, the only change from the win at Brighton last time out. She replaced Abbey-Leigh Stringer, who started on the bench.

And after?

Chelsea return to Kingsmeadow next weekend to host Brighton Sunday October 22; kick-off at 2 p.m.

Western Ham will also play on Sunday, October 22 as they take on Liverpool at home; kick-off at 3 p.m.