Manchester United miss out on group stage after loss to Paris St-Germain

Manchester United’s dreams of making their first appearance in the Women’s Champions League group stage were shattered by Paris St-Germain in the second round of qualifying.

Headed by Marc Skinner, the team went into the second leg in Paris with the hope of defeating the two-time finalists after a draw in the first leg at Leigh Sports Village last week.

Despite a commendable performance, they were overpowered by a superior PSG side led by the fiercely efficient Lieke Martens.

The Dutch forward put the hosts ahead both in the match and the tie with a powerful strike after following up on Tabitha Chawinga’s low shot.

She extended PSG’s lead with another well-executed finish just moments after Lisa Naalsund equalized for United. Martens’ second goal, in particular, crushed the visitors, who then conceded again to a sublime chipped finish by Sandy Baltimore from a challenging angle.

Leah Galton had a goal disallowed for pushing PSG defender Clare Hunt, and Ella Toone’s acrobatic effort hit the woodwork late in the game.

The draw for the group stage will take place on Friday, with Women’s Super League champions Chelsea as England’s sole representative.

United’s Progress Halted in Paris

Prior to the second leg, Manchester United manager Skinner urged his team to create a “magical moment” in Paris.

A successful entry into the Champions League group stage would have confirmed the club’s upward trajectory since its reformation in 2018, which has seen United consistently placing in the top four of the Women’s Super League following their promotion from the Women’s Championship. Last season, they finished as runners-up.

However, despite pushing a strong PSG side – who also finished second in their league last season – throughout both legs of the tie, United fell short in both attack and defense.

As in every game this season, they fell behind at the Parc des Princes due to some lax defending. Although they equalized early in the second half, another defensive lapse allowed PSG to regain the lead at a crucial moment.

While United had opportunities to hurt the home side, they failed to capitalize on them, except for Naalsund’s goal.

There may be complaints about Galton’s disallowed goal, as her push on Hunt was not severe. However, United had plenty of chances to level the tie.

Brazilian forward Geyse was lively throughout the match, but at 1-0, her pass set up Toone for a good chance that the England forward missed. At 3-1, Geyse herself missed a great opportunity by hesitating in possession after breaking through, allowing the home defense to recover.

PSG advances to their fifth consecutive Champions League group stage, while United must shift their focus to domestic matters and their upcoming match against Everton in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.