Australian star forward Sam Kerr has continued her great year in the US National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), breaking the single-season scoring record for the competition.

Key points: Sam Kerr has scored 34 goals in 40 games for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL

Sam Kerr has scored 34 goals in 40 games for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL Kerr is the clear leader in the NWSL all-time goal-scoring charts with 77

Kerr is the clear leader in the NWSL all-time goal-scoring charts with 77 She also jointly holds the single-game record, with four goals for her old club Sky Blue FC

And the player whose record she broke? None other than Kerr herself.

Kerr, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars, scored her 17th and 18th goals of the season against the Washington Spirit in front of home fans in Bridgeview, Illinois.

She opened the scoring for her side in the ninth minute.

Loading

The Red Stars broke through the middle of the park, the ball fell to Katlyn Johnson, who put Kerr through on the right side of goal.

The star striker — who was under pressure from a Spirit defender — produced a brilliant chip that went across goal, lobbing the keeper Aubrey Bledsoe before dipping into the far corner of the net.

Halfway through the first half, the Red Stars doubled their lead when Kerr's shot was deflected by Bledsoe into the path of Yuki Ogimi who rifled the rebound into the roof of the net from close range.

Loading

Early in the second half Kerr helped secure the points for Chicago and set a new scoring record.

The Red Stars won the ball just inside their own half, the ball was played to the left wing and then a great through ball from Yumi Nagasato found Kerr in space on the left side of the penalty area.

She cut inside to her right, drew the defender and goalkeeper before sliding the ball home low inside the post.

To say there is clear air at the top of the NWSL scoring chart right now is an understatement.

Kerr is seven goals ahead of her nearest rival, North Carolina Courage's Lynn Williams. They are the only players above double figures.

The Western Australian native joined the Chicago Red Stars last season and she had an immediate impact, scoring 16 goals in 20 games for her side.

This year she has improved on that and has one game left for the Red Stars to add to her tally before the playoffs — Chicago's win over Washington ensured Kerr and her team qualified for post-season play.

Prior to joining Chicago, she scored 28 goals in three seasons for Sky Blue FC in New Jersey, including the 2017 season where Kerr set the existing record with 17 goals.

Before that Kerr had 15 goals over two years with the Western New York Flash.