Sam Kerr has broken the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) single-season scoring record.
The Australian forward surpassed the milestone, which she herself had set, after a brace for Chicago Red Stars in their NWSL victory over the Washington Spirit.
Kerr had secured the record with 17 goals for Sky Blue FC back in 2017, but scored her 18th goal of the season on Sunday in front of the team’s home fans in Bridgeview, Illinois.
The 26-year-old scored two and assisted the other in the 3-1 victory to send her side second in the table, meaning she now has 34 goals in 40 games for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.
“It’s not easy and these girls make it a lot easier than it should be,” Kerr told reporters after the victory.
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“It was an amazing moment for me and something I’ll remember forever.
“It was nice to do it in front of the Chicago crowd.”
The brace brings her tally to 18 for the season, seven ahead of nearest rival Lynn Williams of North Carolina Courage in this season’s top goalscorers, with the pair the only players in double figures.
Kerr now has 34 goals and seven assists in 35 games for club and country in 2019.
The Australia women’s captain scored five goals in four games at the 2019 World Cup in France this summer, and is the clear leader in the NWSL all-time goal-scoring charts with 77.
The forward became the first Australian to score a World Cup hat-trick as she netted four in the group victory over Jamaica, with her side eventually crashing out of the competition to Norway on penalties in the round of 16.
She also jointly holds the record for the most goals scored in a NWSL game, when she scored four for previous club Sky Blue.
Kerr also managed 15 goals over two years with the Western New York Flash after making the move from Sydney FC.
Their victory helped secure a fifth straight playoff spot, having lost in the semi-final stage of all four previous ventures.
Kerr’s side have now won four successive games after losing three in a row. The Red Stars finish the regular season next weekend at home to Utah with playoff seeding on the line.
