Sam Kerr returns to Champions League in Chelsea's draw with Twente Enschede

Matildas superstar Sam Kerr has returned to the Champions League but has failed to score a decisive goal after again coming off the bench for Chelsea.

Looking to be crowned a European champion, the one major club trophy that has eluded her, Kerr was given another 23 minutes off the bench but could not fire the Blues to victory.

They were forced to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw at Dutch club Twente Enschede in their group opener.

Though coach Sonia Bompastor made seven changes to her line-up, she was still not prepared to throw Kerr into the starting XI, and the 32-year-old had to begin her fifth consecutive match on the bench.

For the fourth match in a row, with two hours of football now under her belt since her return from her 21-month lay-off with an ACL injury, Kerr did not find the net, with her only goal so far scored in her first comeback outing against Aston Villa last month.

This was Kerr's first outing in the European tournament she so desperately wants to win since she scored against Swedish side Hacken in December 2023, a match that proved her last before she suffered the fateful injury on a training trip.

This time, she never seemed likely to grab a winner, after being brought on in the 73rd minute following Chelsea's equaliser from a penalty through Sandy Baltimore.

Twente skipper Danique Van Ginkel had struck in the 63rd minute against the run of play with a curling shot from the edge of the box, but French international Baltimore then converted from the spot after a foul by Lynn Groenewegen on Guro Reiten.

Kerr's latest cameo came after Matildas boss Joe Montemurro all but confirmed earlier this week that she would be involved in their upcoming friendlies in the UK against Wales and England.

Compatriot Ellie Carpenter, also likely to be called up by Montemurro later this week, played a full game for the Blues at right back, her first European outing since leaving France and eight-time tournament winners Lyon.

"We created a lot of opportunities and couldn't score more than one," Bompastor said.

"We had multiple situations in the box and 18 crosses, only six times we were first on the ball. This is not enough when you play a Champions League game."

Real Madrid had an easier time beating Roma 6-2 at home in the first week of the newly expanded league format, featuring 18 teams.

Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Wolfsburg were also victorious.

Chelsea next faces London rivals Tottenham in a Women's Super League match, followed by a second Champions League game against Paris FC Féminines before the international break in the back half of October.

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