Champions League Report: Glasgow City 0 - 0 Peamount United (Glasgow City win 6-5 on penalties)

Peamount United were defeated in agonising fashion this evening losing 5-4 on penalties after a brave and battling performance that James O'Callaghan’s side can be proud of.

Both Aine O'Gorman and Jo Love missed penalties for their respective sides before Peamount United defender Lauryn O'Callaghan saw her penalty saved in sudden death, seeing Glasgow City advance to the next round.

Peamount made a really encouraging start to the game putting Glasgow under intense pressure at every opportunity with a chance or two of their own as well.

Eleanor Ryan-Doyle had two early chances in the opening five minutes but nothing to really trouble Alexander in the Glasgow goal.

Her first chance came from a Watkins corner to the back post. Ryan-Doyle took the ball down with a quick touch before swinging a shot at goal, but it was always rising and cleared the crossbar.

Ryan Doyle was through on goal again moments later thanks to a perfectly timed through ball from her captain Aine O’Gorman, but she couldn't quite get her effort on target and the ball allowing Alexander to collect.

Glasgow City began to slowly grow into the game after the early scares with Caldwell going close after eight minutes.

McLauchlan whipped in a teasing cross across the top of the Peamount defence for Colvill who got a slight header on the ball but not enough with the ball rolling into the path of Niamh Reid Burke to collect with ease.

That early chance saw Glasgow up the intensity levels ever so slightly with Sam Kerr and Lauren Wade probing in midfield as they looked to carve open the impressive Peamount defence.

Wade almost did exactly that as she found Howat in the box with a perfectly weighted free kick right into the crowded box of players. Howat got a touch on Wades cross but it inched wide of just wide of the post. Glasgow displaying what they are well capable of but lacking any really end product in front of goal.

The first real test for Niamh Reid-Burke came with twenty-five minutes on the clock from Howat once more.

The Glasgow striker drove towards goal and past Farrelly on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot towards goal, but it was straight down the throat of the Peamount goalkeeper and safely into her hands.

Peamount to their credit got right in the face of the Glasgow players in every area of the pitch and made things uncomfortable for the hosts. Although Glasgow enjoyed plenty of the ball in the first half, their product in front of goal really let them down with Reid-Burke enjoying a quiet enough first half.

Howat and Kerr had further chances towards the end of the first half but two perfectly timed tackles from Claire Walsh ensured the sides went in level at the break.

Howat began the second half just as she ended the first with another great chance to break the deadlock for Glasgow. She got great power behind her effort only to see her shot tipped around the post from a fantastic save again from Reid-Burke.

A cheeky free kick whipped towards goal from Aine O'Gorman almost caught Alexander out at the near post in the early stages of the second half but she recovered well to save at the feet of Watkins who followed the shot all the way until the danger was averted.

Peamount United midfielder Lucy McCartan stung the palms of Alexander in the Glasgow goal with a powerful strike from distance asking questions of the Glasgow goalkeeper on the hour mark as Peamount looked dangerous on the attack once more.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Glasgow substitute Mairead Fulton almost broke the deadlock for the home side. A ball was played perfectly into her path by Colvill on the edge of the box but she was denied close to goal by Reid-Burke once again who was out early to make it difficult for Fulton.

With seconds to go in injury time the dangerous Howit thought she had won it for Glasgow with a shot close to goal but the impressive Reid-Burke stood up tall again to keep Glasgow at bay and send the game to extra time.

Peamount should have taken the lead in the opening minute of extra time with another trademark ping from distance from McCartan bringing the best out of Alexander who at full stretch tipped the ball over the bar.

Having almost won it for Glasgow in the dying minutes of normal time, substitute Fulton had another fantastic chance to open to scoring. Fulton lobbed a speculative effort towards goal but Reid-Burke watched it all the way and climbed high into the air to collect once more.

Peamount, all evening displayed fantastic solidity and structure across the defence and worked tirelessly to keep Glasgow at bay and themselves right in the tie as the clock ticked towards full time and penalties.

Peamount captain Aine O'Gorman missed her sides third penalty in the shootout with a shot straight down the middle at Alexander putting the home side in the ascendancy before Niamh Reid Burke at full stretch across the goal pulled off a fantastic save from Jo Loves shot to increase the nerves ten fold and send the shoot out to sudden death.

Glasgow converted their following two penalties with confident kicks from the spot but Lauryn O'Callaghan saw her shot saved by Alexander and edge her side into the next round by the smallest of margins.

When the dust settles, Peamount will take huge confidence from this game overall in a performance that has done the Women's National League proud.

Glasgow City: Lee Alexander; Rachel McLauchlan, Leanne Ross, Jo Love, Zaneta Wyne; Lauren Wade (Mairead Fulton 71), Leanne Crichton, Sharon Wojcik (Tyler Toland 46), Sam Kerr ( Megan Foley 95); Aoife Colvill, Kirsty Howat

Subs not Used: Clachers, Lauder, Shine, Clark, Davidson.

Booked: Rachel McLauchlan (54).

Peamount United: Niamh Reid Burke; Dearbhaile Beirne (Sadhbh Doyle 85), Niamh Farrelly, Claire Walsh, Lauryn O'Callaghan; Alannah McEvoy, Lucy McCartan, Karen Duggan, Aine O'Gorman; Becky Watkins (Megan Lynch 73), Eleanor Ryan Doyle

Subs not Used: McAloon, Glackin, Kealy, Maloney, Masterson, Ruddy, Reddy, Barnes, Doherty

Referee: Sabina Bolic (Croatia).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Niamh Reid Burke (Peamount United).