Matildas Abroad Review: Kerr nets brace; Fortuna and Lyon continue winning ways

Before our Matildas Abroad returned home to Australia for the intentional friendlies against New Zealand, club action finished across Europe and the USA. 

Sam Kerr found the back of the net twice, while Fortuna Hjørring and Olympique Lyonnais continued their winning ways in their domestic leagues. 

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Starting off in England, four Aussies made the start as Mackenzie Arnold and Tameka Yallop's West Ham United welcomed Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso's Manchester City. 

It was the side in Blue that got on the scoresheet early, with Georgia Stanway finding the opener in the eighth minute for the visitors, giving them a 1-0 advantage going into the break. Raso providing the assist for Stanway, finding her unmarked in the box to finish past Arnold. 

Players of Manchester City Women huddle prior to the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between West Ham United Women and Manchester City Women at Chigwell Construction Stadium on April 02, 2022 in Dagenham, England. (Photo by Henry Browne - The FA/The FA via Getty Images,)
Players of Manchester City Women huddle prior to the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between West Ham United Women and Manchester City Women at Chigwell Construction Stadium on April 02, 2022, in Dagenham, England. (Photo by Henry Browne - The FA/The FA via Getty Images,)

West Ham had the ball in the back of the net in the second stanza, Adriana Leon holding her run perfectly, however, an offside Claudia Walker stole the ball from the Canadian to rule the goal offside. 

Caroline Weir tested Arnold in goal but it would be Khadija Shaw that would double City's lead to finish the game 2-0.

Over in Leicester, the WSL newcomers hosted Arsenal. The Gunners showed their dominance early with Caitlin Foord setting Beth Mead up for the opener just two minutes in. 


A Vivianne Miedema's double, Tobin Heath's 83rd-minute goal and an unfortunate own goal finished the win for Arsenal, winning 5-0. 

Steph Catley entered the game at the 62nd minute, replacing Katie McCabe. While Lydia Williams remained on the bench. 

Kyah Simon's Spurs hosted Emily Gielnik's Aston Villa, both Aussies started for their respective sides. 

The teams were unable to be split at the break, going into the interval at 0-0.

A 0-0 draw looked on the cards, until Ramona Petzelberger found the winner for Villa in the 83rd minute, scoring in back-to-back games and giving Aston Villa their first win in four games. 

This last game of WSL action in England saw Sam Kerr's Chelsea host Reading FC.

Another five-goal thriller was on the cards in the WSL as they looked to reclaim the top spot after Arsenal had taken it back just a day prior with their 5-0 win. 


Jessie Fleming found the net for the hosts in the 40th minute, the other side of the break saw Beth England add her name to the scoresheet.

Kerr netted a brace in quick succession, making it 4-0 and scoring her 16th goal of the WSL season. 

England finished off the scoring from the spot to record an emphatic win. 

Moving over to the USA, Emily van Egmond's San Diego Wave FC recorded their first-ever win in the NWSL, beating So Cal rivals Angel City FC 4-2.

Jodie Taylor, Alex Morgan and Amirah Ali were all on the scoresheet for the Wave, while an own goal and a Christen Press goal scored two back for the visitors.

Van Egmond did not feature in the matchday squad. 

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In France, Mary Fowler started on the bench for Montpellier against Reims. 

Maëlle Lakrar found the opener for Montpellier in stoppage time of the first half. Fowler entered the fray in the 65th minute, however, it would be Reims that would find the back of the net next.

Goals to Lou-Ann Joly and Kethna Louis secured the 2-1 win for Reims. 

Ellie Carpenter's Lyon was looking to make it 17 wins in the D1. The defender was not named in the matchday squad, facing a suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards.

In Carpenter's absence, Lyon was able to get a 2-0 win over Guingamp, Catarina Macario and Ada Hegerberg scoring for Lyon. 

Over in Denmark, Clare Wheeler, Angie Beard and Indi-Paige Riley all started for Fortuna Hjørring in their second game of the season.

Sofie Lundgaard found the back of the net for Fortuna twice in the first half, with a goal to Riley giving the visitors a 3-0 advantage going into the break.

Omewa Joy Ogochukwu netted the fourth for Fortuna as they beat FC THY-Thisted Q 4-0.

Over in Sweden, Clare Polkinghorne's Vittsjö GIK hosted Teagan Micah and Charli Grant's FC Rosengård.

The Queensland duo started for their respective sides, with Polkinghorne in the heart of defence and Micah in goals.


Olivia Schough had the opener for Rosengård in the dying minutes of the game, before Jutta Rantala found the equaliser for Vittsjö GIK in the 95th minute.

Our last stop takes us to Italy, with Aivi Luik and Ella Mastrantonio's Pomigliano C.F hosting fourth placed Sassuolo. 

Sassuolo scored three goals in the first half to give them a comprehensive win over Pomigliano, Luik remained on the bench while Mastrantonio started.