- Brendan White
- Wed, Sep 28 2011
PSG will carry a two goal advantage into the second leg next week as they saw off the spirited challenge of Peamount United at Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday night in the last 32 of the Women's Champions League.
Two second half goals were enough for victory but Peamount United will take confidence heading to Paris having created numerous changes throughout the game.
Peamount United captain Louise Quinn had the first shot of the game but her 25-yard free kick was easily saved by PSG keeper Veronique Pons after Sara Lawlor was fouled. Peamount keeper Linda Meehan was called into action after 12 minutes when she saved well from Caroline Pizzala.
Meehan was called into action again a minute later when she saved from Charlotte Poulain from the edge of the box after good play by Aurelie Conforti. PSG had another spell that had Peamount under more pressure before the half way mark of the first half when Conforti fired over the bar before Pizzala forced Meehan into another save.
Peamount began to grow more into the game and began to gain a foothold of the ball. Stephanie Roche looked to set up Sara Lawlor but PSG keeper Pons was out to smother the ball.
The home side almost grabbed the opening goal when Sara Lawlor raced to the end line before forcing Pons into a good save. Grace Murray whipped in the corner but Louise Quinn couldn't get her header to it. Aurelie Conforti again tried her luck with a shot just outside the Peas box which took a deflection on its way to being saved by Linda Meehan.
PSG continued to pressure the Peamount goal but Nonna Debonne shot just wide there from the edge of the box after Peamount failed to clear their lines. Sara Lawlor again raced down the right minutes later before beating PSG captain Sabrina Delannoy but her near post strike was well saved by Pons.
Sara Lawlor very nearly capitalised on an error by PSG 'kepper Veronique Pons as she charged down a back pass by Delannoy but the ball dropped on the top of the net.
Peamount United almost took the lead just two minutes into the second half. Aine O'Gorman played Lawlor down the right and Stephanie Roche almost got her head onto the cross. Jessica Houara's shot whistled past the Peamount post after a good spell of pressure on the Peamount goal shortly afterwards. Julie-Ann Russell got down the wing well to cross on the hour mark but again Stephanie Roche just couldn't get a touch on the ball.
A stroke of misfortune had Peamount United behind after 72 minutes. PSG sub Nora Coton-Pelagie struck a shot at goal from the edge of the area but it took a big deflection on the way from Louise Quinn leaving Linda Meehan helpless as the ball skipped into the bottom right corner of her goal.
Peamount continued in search of the equaliser but almost went two goals behind when goalscorer Coton-Pelagie struck the crossbar from 30-yards. The dreaded second goal arrived for PSG in stoppage. A long clearance saw Cindy Thomas played through after the offside trap failed to work, and she fired the ball into the top corner with Peas 'keeper Linda Meehan stranded. A performance of real guts and determination unfortunately ended in defeat for Peamount United but they travel to France still with a chance of progression.
Peamount United: Meehan, Sinnott, Murray (S. McGlone 86), Duggan, Byrne, Quinn (c), W. McGlone (Jenkins 53), O'Gorman, Lawlor, Comerford (Russell 49), Roche.
Subs not used: Genockey, Parkes, Kinsella, Donohue.
Paris Saint-Germain: Pons, Boulleau, Lapailleur, Delannoy (C), Debonne, Houara, Pizzala, Poulain (Coton-Pelagie 67), Rubio, Dali (Prevost), Conforti (Thomas 63).
Subs not used: Soyer, Blanc, Bussaglia, Mutnik.
Referee: Ausra Kance (LTU)
Attendance: 2109.
