Sam Kerr starts US season with a goal

Matildas captain Samantha Kerr has begun the new US club season with a brilliantly-taken goal which earned her Chicago Red Stars a 1-1 draw against defending champions North Carolina Courage.

The Golden Boot winner in the American NSWL and in the W-League in each of their past two seasons, 25-year-old Kerr easily beat a defender and cut the ball back past the keeper to put her team ahead in the 26th minute.

The goal was against the run of play as the Courage dominated, enjoying 60 per cent possession and taking 24 shots to six against, eventually equalising through Crystal Dunn in the second half.

It was Kerr's league-leading 60th goal in the NSWL and came against the team that defeated the Stars in a semi-final last year.

Kerr is preparing to lead Australia at the Women's World Cup in France in June.