'Unbelievable' Kerr's Champs League masterclass

Matildas captain Sam Kerr turned in an "unbelievable" performance, scoring one goal and setting up another, in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final.

It was Chelsea's first ever win over the German powerhouse club, who have won the title twice in the last seven years, and finished runners-up on three other occasions, including 2020.

The match was locked at 0-0 until the 55th minute, when Kerr stepped to the right of Wolfsburg goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, and found the back of the net from an acute angle.

It was Kerr's 17th goal of the season.

Just 11 minutes later the 27-year-old had a hand in Chelsea's second goal, after an awful clearance from Kiedrzynek.

Kerr's teammate Fran Kirby pounced on the mistake, finding Kerr in front of the goals, with the Australian linking up with Danish superstar Pernille Harder to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead.

"It was her best game in a Chelsea shirt," coach Emma Hayes said. "She looked relaxed and calm, held the ball up, and had a swagger about her game.

"I thought Sam was unbelievable tonight. She enjoyed being on the biggest stage and showing why she is one of the best in the world."

Wolfsburg scored an important away goal from the penalty spot to narrow the margin to 2-1.

The tie is being played in Budapest due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, with Chelsea the 'home' team for the opening leg.

The second leg will be played next week, and Hayes concedes Wolfsburg had the upper hand for much of the match.

Sam Kerr of Chelsea runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Lena Oberdorf of VfL Wolfsburg during the First Leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final match.

"I think in games like this you have to recognise that they have been so dominant in Europe for so many years, along with Lyon, that they're always going to have the upper hand on the English side because of those years of experience, so I think it played out the way I expected it to," she said.

"I expected them to dominate chances, like they did, so I'm grateful that we only conceded one away goal."

Wolfsburg eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League in three straight years starting in 2015-16, and it was only the brilliance of Chelsea goalkeeper Ann Katrin-Berger that kept the English side in this match.

"First of all, it's a goalkeeper's job to make saves," Hayes said.

"However, she is the best in the world, she's amazing and she did a great job of that."

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