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Peamount United's Sara Lawlor (r) challenges Sabrina Delannoy of Paris Saint-Germain during last week's first leg in Tallaght. PSG lead the tie 2-0. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Preview

Uphill battle as Peas head to Paris

Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, the ladies of Peamount United travel to Paris with their Champions League dream on the line. Ben Blake previews this afternoon’s action.

PEAMOUNT UNITED LADIES head into today’s UEFA Champions League last 32 second leg knowing they will face stern French resistance as they attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit at the Stade Charlety.

Second half strikes from Paris Saint-Germain substitutes Nora Coton-Pelagie and Cindy Thomas put a damper on what was an admirable display from the home side in front of 2,109 fans at Tallaght Stadium last week meaning they have it all to do in the French capital.

Eileen Gleeson’s side matched their opponents for large spells of the first leg through a game plan of closing down at a high tempo and using lone striker Sara Lawlor as their main outlet. Despite its reasonable success, the tactic eventually saw The Peas players tire and it was no coincidence that both goals were conceded in the final 20 minutes.

PSG’s technical superiority was evident at times and they will fancy their chances of progressing but an early Peamount goal would blow it wide open and captain Louise Quinn insists her and her team-mates are more than capable of scoring.

“We are just going to take it on,” Quinn said. “We know we have nothing to lose and we are going to really push forward to get the goals.

We should have scored a few goals last week so hopefully we are going to get them this time.

Underdogs

Goalkeeper Linda Meehan, who was outstanding in Tallaght, believes the visitors can thrive as underdogs.

“We got over the disappointment of the first game quite quickly. We know exactly what we have to do and we are underdogs so all the pressure is off us,” she said.

This time around, Gleeson will most likely shift from 4-5-1 to a more attacking 4-4-2 as they look to claw their way back into the tie.

Lawlor proved a real threat on the night and will count herself unlucky not to have scored on a couple of occasions. Stephanie Roche, who played as the most advanced of the five in midfield, could be pushed forward to partner her but Claire Kinsella, Claire Walsh and Aine O’Gorman are all viable alternatives.

O’Gorman started at right wing but struggled to impose herself on the game and a greater contribution will be expected from the 22-year-old this evening.

Kick off in Paris is 4pm Irish time and the game is live on Eurosport.

Ben Blake is a freelance sports journalist and a proud member of Ireland’s only Hartlepool United supporters club. Follow him on Twitter @benblakesport.

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