French flair finally breaks Peamount’s resistance
It took a deflected Paris Saint-Germain goal from Nora Coton-Pelagie at Tallaght Stadium 18 minutes from full-time to break the Dubliners’ resistance in this first leg, before an attendance of 2,109.
But their task in the return leg of the last-32 tie was made all the more daunting by a second from Cindy Thomas deep into stoppage time.
The Parisians operate on a different level to their part-time opponents — currently transitioning from semi-professional to a full-time set-up — and it showed early on.
However, once Peamount soaked up some early pressure, they rallied and could have been ahead at the break.
Lone striker Sara Lawlor had her work cut out for her against a PSG defence marshalled by French international Laure Lepailleur but her persistence nearly paid off on 25 minutes.
The forward displayed great footwork to cut in from the right and it took a smart save from goalkeeper Veronique Pons to turn her low shot out for a corner.
An even clearer opening arrived from Stephanie Roche’s resulting corner. The delivery found its way to Louise Quinn inside the six-yard box but the Peamount skipper somehow header over the bar and onto the top of the net.
PSG emerged for the second half vastly improved and Jessica Houara drilled wide from a good position on 57 minutes after the hosts failed to properly clear a cross into the box.
The French pressed and their pressure finally told on 72 minutes.
Substitute Coton-Pelagie was only on the pitch five minutes when her speculative drive from 25 yards flicked off Quinn to deceive Meehan in the Peamount goal.
It was harsh on the Dubliners but they should have gone further behind a minute later as Houara smashed over from six yards with the goal at her mercy.
Peamount looked to make the occasion of the biggest game in the history of Irish women’s football more memorable with an equaliser but they were unhinged at the end when another substitute, Cindy Thomas, burst clear to make it 2-0 late on.
PEAMOUNT UNITED: Meehan; Sinnott, Byrne, Duggan, Murray (S. McGlone 86); O’Gorman, Quinn, Comerford (Russell 59), Roche, W. McGlone (Jenkins 54); Lawlor.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN: Pons; Debonne, Lepailleur, Delannoy, Boulleau; Dali (Prevost 85), Rubio, Poulain (Coton-Pelagie 67) Houara; Pizzala, Conforti (Thomas 63).
Referee: Ausra Kance (LTU).
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