Sam Kerr scores four goals in Chelsea's WSL Cup thrashing of West Ham in timely form boost for Matildas

Kieran Francis

Sam Kerr scores four goals in Chelsea's WSL Cup thrashing of West Ham in timely form boost for Matildas image

Matildas star Sam Kerr scored four goals as Chelsea romped to a 7-0 win against West Ham in the FA Women's League Cup semi-final on Friday (AEDT).

The star striker banged in a first-half hat-trick and added another strike after the break as the Blues secured their place in the competition's final - to be played against Arsenal on March 6 (AEDT).

It means Kerr has scored an extraordinary six goals in two League Cup matches this season, with Chelsea entering the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

MORE: Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter returns from injury for Lyon's win over Rodez

The performance will be a boost for the 29-year-old, who has been down on form in the WSL this season compared to her lofty standards.

Kerr has won the golden boot in the competition the last two seasons with 21 and 20 goals respectively, but currently sits third on the goalscoring table with six goals in 13 matches, four strikes behind leader Khadija Shaw from Manchester City.

The Australian striker has also been goalless in four of her six Champions League games but still has five goals in the competition due to the four she scored against KF Vllaznia.

Kerr's four-goal haul will be a welcome sign for the Matildas as they prepare to host Women's World Cup 2023 alongside New Zealand.

Sam Kerr Matildas
Getty

When does the Women's World Cup start?

  • Opening group stage matches: July 20, 2023
  • Final group stage matches: August 3, 2023
  • Round of 16: August 5-8, 2023
  • Quarter-finals: August 11-12, 2023
  • Semi-finals: August 15-16, 2023
  • Third-place match: August 19, 2023
  • Women's World Cup final: August 20, 2023

The 2023 Women's World Cup will begin on July 20, 2023 (local time) with both Australia and New Zealand to play their first group matches. The host traditionally opens the tournament, and New Zealand has been proactively assigned to Group A, while Australia is slotted into Group B.

Exactly one month later, the 2023 Women's World Cup final will then be played on August 20, 2023 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

The draw for the 2023 Women's World Cup took place on October 22, 2022 from Auckland, New Zealand. 

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.