Sam Kerr’s first goal of the season helped reigning Women’s Super League champions Chelsea beat West Ham to move top of the table.

Sam Kerr’s first goal of the season propelled reigning champions Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over West Ham, securing their place at the top of the league table. After having a goal disallowed for offside, the Australian striker opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Kerr’s remarkable goal came as she was left unmarked at the back post, where she expertly leaped to head in a well-placed cross from Niamh Charles. The build-up play involved England forward Fran Kirby, making her first start since February after recovering from a knee injury that had ruled her out of the Women’s World Cup.

Although Lauren James had a golden opportunity to double the host’s lead from another Kirby pass, West Ham’s goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, made an incredible save with her legs. However, the substitute Erin Cuthbert sealed the victory for Chelsea with a goal in the first minute of added time, clinching the three points.

This win extended Chelsea’s remarkable home run, marking their 17th successive victory in the Women’s Super League at either Kingsmeadow or Stamford Bridge. Notably, they have not dropped any points at home since February 2022, when they played a goalless draw against Arsenal.

West Ham, on the other hand, continued their streak of not beating Chelsea in their 11 Women’s Super League meetings, despite having several opportunities to equalize when they were 1-0 behind.

Although Chelsea aimed to secure their fifth successive Women’s Super League title, they began the day in the fifth position. The prospect of retaining the top spot might be short-lived, as the four teams above them – Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United – are also in action this weekend.

However, Chelsea’s manager, Emma Hayes, must be pleased with the team’s unbeaten start to their title defense. The return of Kerr, the club’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons, and Kirby, Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, was undoubtedly a highlight.

Hayes emphasized the need to allow these two players time to regain their telepathic understanding, considering they had only trained together twice. Their presence promises to bring magic to the team, and the manager expressed optimism about the direction in which the team is progressing.

Sam Kerr’s return to the starting lineup was particularly notable, given her recent struggles with a calf injury. She missed the opening two matches of the season but managed to return for the Women’s World Cup, where she scored in Australia’s semi-final loss to England.

Kirby, too, made her return after being sidelined due to a persistent knee injury that required surgery. Her exceptional passing and ability to unlock defenses were on full display during the match.

Although Kirby was substituted after 56 minutes, this was a significant step forward in her recovery, considering her eight-month absence from action. Emma Hayes expressed her happiness for Kirby’s performance and stressed the importance of managing her fitness carefully to ensure she remains available for key matches later in the season.

Despite their loss, West Ham’s manager, Rehanne Skinner, found plenty of positives in her team’s performance, especially in the first half, where they created numerous goal-scoring opportunities. The Hammers will look to build on these promising signs as the season progresses.