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AFC Women’s Asian Cup: Australia record-breaking goalscorer Sam Kerr mobbed by Indonesian opponents after 18-0 defeat

  • Captain Kerr scores five to break national goalscoring tally with 54, record was previously held by former men’s international Tim Cahill
  • ‘I definitely thought about that before the game about how special it will be for my family’, says Kerr after securing milestone in birthplace of India

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Australian football player Sam Kerr (centre) with Indonesian team players after an AFC Women’s Asian Cup group game and 2023 World Cup qualifier in India. Photo: Instagram / CommBank Matildas

Australia women’s captain Sam Kerr was mobbed by excited Indonesian players despite them suffering an 18-0 demolition in their AFC Asian Cup group opener in Mumbai.

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The Matildas forward scored a whopping five goals against Garuda Pertiwi, bringing her national goalscoring tally to 54, surpassing former men’s international Tim Cahill’s record of 50.

It did not take long for the Indonesian contingent to huddle around the Chelsea FC star and Balon d’Or nominee for selfies and autographs after Friday’s game, as seen in a wholesome photo posted by the Australian national team’s social media platforms.

Australia’s Sam Kerr (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 group game against Indonesia in Mumbai, India. Photo: AP
Australia’s Sam Kerr (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 group game against Indonesia in Mumbai, India. Photo: AP

Kerr said it was an “amazing honour” to become the country’s leading scorer. The 28-year-old was one of the eight players to score in the victory, which was Australia’s biggest-ever in the competition.

“Obviously Tim is a legend in Australia so to be in the same conversation as him is an amazing honour,” Kerr said. “But any time I score for my country, it’s an amazing honour.

 

“I didn’t have many so I don’t take any goal for granted … breaking the record is amazing and it’s something I will remember forever.”

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