Sam Kerr was made to wait for her Chelsea comeback as fellow Matilda Ellie Carpenter stole the show with an assist on her Blues debut in England’s Women’s Super League.
Kerr, who hasn’t played since January 2024 due to an ACL injury, was named in Chelsea’s matchday squad on the bench.
However, the Matildas captain ended up as an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over fellow title contenders Manchester City.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor explained: “She was fit to come in the game. It was my decision not to make that call.
“Maybe if the game had been 2-0, I would have done something different. But 2-1 where City was trying to push hard to score the second goal, I thought maybe I had other options on the bench.”
Carpenter, who moved from Olympique Lyon to Chelsea in the off-season, put in a full shift at right-back and set up their opening goal for Aggi Beever-Jones.
The right-back bombed down the right flank, receiving a through-ball form Nathalie Bjorn. Carpenter took one touch, before whipping in a low cross for Beever-Jones to convert.
Bompastor, who previously coached Carpenter at Lyon, said: “A great performance from Ellie. I know Ellie by heart and I’m not really surprised (with her) debut.
“She’s a great player. As you could see tonight, she just brought an immediate impact and I think she has this quality. We are really proud to have her in our squad.”
Elsewhere in the opening weekend of the WSL, Steph Catley grabbed an assist as Arsenal came from behind to win 4-1 over London City Lionesses.
Alanna Kennedy started and played 83 minutes in her London City Lionesses debut following her move from USA NWSL club Angel City.
A historic day for the club 🩵 pic.twitter.com/hKtvshSUJk
— London City Lionesses (@LC_Lionesses) September 6, 2025
Catley put in a full shift and provided the pass for Olivia Smith’s 29th-minute goal which made it 1-1.
Caitlin Foord was a 61st minute sub for the Gunners while Kyra Cooney-Cross remained an unused sub.
Hayley Raso made her debut for new club Eintracht Frankfurt in a 5-0 win in the German Frauen-Bundesliga.
Raso made a cameo as a 77th minute substitute, as Eintracht eased past SGS Essen.
Ligadebüt als Adlerträgerin: 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊 ✅
🫶 Ereleta Memeti, Amanda Ilestedt, Noemi Ivelj, Jarne Teulings und Hayley Raso.#SGE #SGESGS pic.twitter.com/AU79LXxBsr
— Eintracht Frankfurt Frauen (@EintrachtFrauen) September 6, 2025
In Italy’s Serie A Coppa, Wini Heatley put in a full shift as AS Roma edged AC Milan 1-0.
Daniela Galic got an assist in Vittsjo’s 3-2 win over Rosengard in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
In transfer news, Emily van Egmond penned a two-year deal with WSL club Leicester City with the option of a further season, switching from second tier Birmingham City.
Part of the team 🤛 pic.twitter.com/KL2sVKqWug
— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) September 4, 2025
