PSG 3 - 0 Peamount United
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It was always going to be difficult for Peamount United as they travelled to Paris for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Paris St Germaine. They began the game two away goals down after coming out on the wrong end of a 2-0 result at home.
Just as they were during the first leg, the Peas were competitive again this afternoon. Unfortunately for Eileen Gleeson and her players though, PSG were just too strong, scoring three unanswered second half goals to seal the tie.
Les Parisiennes had the better of the game from the off but, in the first period, the ladies in green were well able to trade blows with them with their five in midfield. Chances were difficult to carve out for the home team and they were limited to shots from distance.
After a quarter of an hour Julie Soyer tried to catch Linda Meehan off her guard from nearly 25 yards. Meehan was happy to take the ball straight into her arms but this was the beginning of a busy day for the Peamount goalkeeper.
Jessica Houara was next to threaten for the French side. A sweeping movement through the middle of midfield put her through but she could only fire over from just outside the box.
It was not until five minutes before the break that United could call Vironique Pons into action. Sara Lawlor drifted to the left and played Stephanie Roche into space in the middle. Roche could only find the waiting hands of the PSG ‘keeper with her effort.
Linda Meehan was again called into action just before the half-time whistle. Kenza Dali cut inside from the right wing with a neat touch and created space for herself inside the area. She was visibly unhappy with her subsequent shot, which went straight at Meehan.
Nora Coton-Pelagie broke the day’s deadlock only a few minutes into the second half. She hit an unstoppable shot past Meehan’s outstretched right hand from nearly 25 yards after Peamount could not clear a PSG corner.
Their evening’s total was doubled in the 67th minute in equally spectacular fashion. Nonna Debonne gathered a loose ball on the left of midfield before cutting inside and curling a right-footed effort into the far corner. The ball went in off the post before finding the net leaving Meehan with no chance to get a hand to it.
PSG’s continued to pressure against a tiring Peamount side. This eventually brought a third goal with five minutes left on the clock.
Having been a nuisance all day, Dali finally scored. From the edge of the box, her powerful shot found the top corner despite a hand from Meehan.
The home team were too much for Peamount over two legs, particularly today. The experience will of course stand to the Irish side, who will take a lot from this when they begin their WNL campaign in November.
Paris St Germain: Veronique Pons; Julie Soyer (Delphine Blanc, 74), Laure Lepailleur, Sabrina Delannoy, Nonna Debonne; Charlotte Poulain (Lea Roubio, 54), Caroline Pizzala, Nora Coton-Pelagie; Cindy Thomas, Jessica Houara, Kenza Dali.
Subs not used: Candice Prevost, Nelly Mutnik, Aurelie Conforti, Elise Bussaglia, Laure Bouilleau.
Peamount United: Linda Meehan; Susan Byrne, Karen Duggan, Grace Murray, Nicola Sinnott; Ruth Comerford, Wendy McGlone (Julie-Ann Russell, HT), Aine O’Gorman, Louise Quinn, Stephanie Roche; Sara Lawlor (Clare Kinsella, 82).
Subs not used: Emma Donohue, Aine Genockey, Rachel Jenkins, Stacey McGlone, Amanda Parkes.
Attendance: Not very many. 5pm CET kick off? Absolutely disgraceful time for a match.
Extratime.ie Player of the Game: Jessica Houara. Though she didn’t get on the score sheet herself, she was highly entertaining in attacking the Peamount defence.
