Women’s Asian Cup: Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s drought-breaking goal will do her confidence a world of good

On the eve of the Matildas’ most important game ever held in Perth, the hometown hero and captain Sam Kerr admitted she was still yet to hit the heady heights She estimated she was feeling around about “85 per cent” of the player she was pre-torn ACL and her confidence was still returning to what it once was. Goals are to a striker what closed deals are to a salesperson, an external endorsement what they are doing works and perhaps more importantly, a vital source of confidence. After 851 days without a goal for the Matildas, Kerr will be walking a little bit taller after her 14th minute header marked an end to an injury-inflicted drought. It was fitting goal No.70 of her illustrious national team career came in her home city, particularly after her last Matildas goals also came in Perth. This was not the sort of Kerr performance which will have defenders around the world quaking in their boots, but that was as much to do with the opposition as anything else. Kerr was crowded out as the lone striker in the middle of the park and with the midfield triumvirate of Clare Wheeler, Katrina Gorry and Emily van Egmond all either dropping deep or floating wide, the skipper was the sole source of Philippines defenders’ focus. She sensed the attention and rather than playing off the shoulder, looked to drop short and offer an outlet to feet, but with the Matildas forced wide more often than not, it meant when the inevitable cross arrived, Kerr had limited space to exploit and attack. The arrival of Mary Fowler and later Amy Sayer off the bench provided Kerr with a more central, creative outlet for her to work off, draw defenders away and create space. Their increased minutes moving forward, and Montemurro’s utilisation of them bears watching in relation to how to get the best out of Kerr. But a goal is a goal is a goal; if there is anything Kerr can take from this game, it is the ending of a lengthy drought in front of her friends and family in the adoring crowd, and three points.