It may not have been the most beautiful of matches for Emma Hayes and the Blues, but in the end, Chelsea still managed to secure a positive result on the road in the Champions League. In the midst of CFC attempting to recover after a sluggish first half, Sam Kerr continues to show signs of worry, missing a multitude of opportunities that a striker of her quality normally puts away.
The Blues had a chance to punish Los Blancos on one of their weaknesses, set pieces, and corner kicks just two minutes into the match. Real Madrid failed to clear the ball once again, and when the ball found Kerr at the six-yard box, Kerr not only had one opportunity to find the lead but two chances to set CFC up for success the rest of the way. Even though there were plenty of white jerseys in front of the month of the goal, Kerr had plenty of room to put away at least one chance.
The former two-time NWSL MVP rattled the crossbar on her second attempt, beginning a half filled with dissatisfaction for the Blues. Kerr would have chances in the eighth minute, and the 29th minute, both of them off of passes from her running mate, Lauren James. The one that Chelsea fans and critics will not forget from this match was in the final minutes when Guro Reiten placed nearly a mirror image of her assist to Kerr at the King Power.
The ball curled around Spanish defender Rocío Gálvez and found Kerr one on one with the goalkeeper, but a world-class Misa Rodríguez save kept the game knotted a one apiece. Kerr has now finished below her expected goals total for the second straight match, but her ability to be in the right place at the right time should be promising when the Australian finds her form once again.