Paris St. Germain 3-0 Peamount United (agg: 5-0)
PEAMOUNT UNITED’S FIRST ever Women’s Champions League run came to a disappointing end in France today, the Dublin side losing three-nil to Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Charlety.
As in the first leg, the goals came in the second half, with Nora Coton-Pelagie (49), Nonna Debonne (66) and Kenza Dali (85) all getting their names on the scoresheet.
The Peas went with the same eleven who lined out in Tallaght during the first leg of the tie, while the home side made three changes from that night, goalscorers Nora Coton-Pelagie and Cindy Thomas earning themselves starting berths.
The game was only 5 minutes old when O’Gorman won possession and released Roche, whose shot, though struck solidly, was gathered comfortably by Veronique Pons.
Peas defender Nicola Sinnott was caught out on 22 minutes when a heavy touch played Coton-Pelagie in on goal. She recovered excellently with a well-timed challenge however, and combined with Meehan to avert the danger.
The visitors’ best effort of the opening half arrived six minutes before the break. Lawlor advanced in possession down the left before laying the ball back to Roche, whose 20-yard effort had Pons scrambling backwards to pull off the save.
Julie Ann Russell was introduced in place of McGlone at half-time in an effort to augment Peamount’s attacking threat.
It was PSG, however, who struck the first blow on 49 minutes. A set-piece delivery deposited the ball at the feet of Coton-Pelagie, whose clean strike fizzed past Meehan and into the back of the net.
The Parisians then doubled their lead to put the result beyond any doubt.
Full-back Nonna Debonne was given licence by PSG coach Camillo Vaz to bomb down the left and, on 66 minutes, she did just that. Taking on Sinnott, she cut inside onto her right foot and found the top corner with a superb strike that left Meehan rooted.
Peamount threw bodies forward in a final attempt to unlock the opposition’s rearguard and had their best chance of the game with 15 minutes remaining. Lawlor, who again impressed with her work rate, slipped O’Gorman in, but Pons was alert to the danger and rushed to smother the ball before she could make telling contact.
Lawlor was replaced by Claire Kinsella after pulling up with a hamstring strain and, in the 85th minute, Dali capped a fine performance with a goal to make it 3-0.
PSG progress to the quarter-finals where they will face German side FFC Frankfurt.
PSG: Pons, Delannoy, Soyer, Debonne, Coton-Pelagie, Houara, Thomas, Poulain, Lepailleur, Pizzala, Dali.
Subs: Rubio for Poulain (54), Prevost for Thomas (60), Blanc for Soyer (74).
Peamount United: Meehan, Sinnott, Murray, Duggan, Byrne, Quinn, McGlone, O’Gorman, Lawlor, Comerford, Roche.
Subs: Russell for McGlone (45), Parkes for Duggan (61), Kinsella for Lawlor (81).
