The champions, recovering from their false start to the season when they lost at Arsenal the previous weekend, were in ruthless mood on Sunday back at their Kingsmeadow base as Matildas captain Kerr struck twice in the second half.

Last season's Golden Boot winner could hardly have enjoyed two more different goals, the first coming as an absolute gift from an Everton defender and the second being a perfect demonstration of the Australian striker's aerial prowess.

Kerr, who became the all-time leading Australian international scorer by taking her tally to 48 at the Olympics, had a rare day of not getting on the scoresheet when she came on as a sub in the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal in Chelsea's opening game.

But last season's WSL top scorer with 21 goals in 22 games found herself back in the starting lineup on Sunday and could hardly believe her luck at the ease with which she got off the mark for the season.

She slotted home her first in the 47th minute when Megan Finnegan absent-mindedly passed the ball across goal trying to find her goalkeeper, only to stroke it straight into Kerr's path.

All Kerr had to do was roll the ball into an empty net to put Chelsea, who were already one up through her strike partner Fran Kirby's superb first-half goal, in complete control.

Kerr's execution of their third goal in the 74th minute, a clinical finish from Reiten's cross from the left, was masterful, demonstrating why she's surely the best header of the ball in the women's game.

She was brought off soon after her goal by manager Emma Hayes but Chelsea weren't done as Beth England came on to seal their win with a fourth, slotting in a rebound after Erin Cuthbert's shot had come off the woodwork.

Australian Associated Press