Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Manchester United: WSL side miss out on Women’s Champions League group stages

Manchester United missed out on an opening group stage of the Women’s Champions League after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the second qualifying round.

United were defeated 3-1 in the second leg in France and lost the qualifying match 4-2 to the two-time Champions League finalists.

Lieke Martens scored a 17th-minute opener for PSG, but United midfielder Lisa Naalsund leveled the score in the 47th minute at the Parc des Princes.

But just a minute later the home side were back in front when Martens scored her second, before Sandy Baltimore gave the French side a two-goal lead and ended United’s hopes of reaching the group stage.

Marc Skinner’s defeat means the only British team in the group stage of the Champions League Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.

Arsenal suffered a shock exit in the first qualifying round after they were defeated on penalties by French side Paris FC.

Scottish Women’s Premier League champions Glasgow City fell into the same phase as United when they suffered a second-round qualifying defeat to Norwegian champions Brann after a 6-0 aggregate defeat on Wednesday.

SWPL runners-up Celtic were eliminated in the first qualifying round after a penalty shootout defeat to Norwegian side Valerenga.

How Man Utd crashed out of the Champions League in Paris

The hosts started strongly and looked to take the lead after 10 minutes when Tabitha Chawinga, goalscorer in the first leg, rounded Mary Earps but shot tamely to release Maya Le Tissier.

The opener followed eight minutes later. This time Earps did well to deny Chawinga but could do little as Martens pounced on the rebound and curled it past the United keeper.

United tried to respond quickly by putting Geyse in the box on Naalsund’s tee shot, but the Norwegian could not capitalize on the opportunity and the visitors were left disappointed when Martens headed over.

Skinner’s team came close before half-time when Geyse combined with Ella Toone, but the England international failed to make clean contact and blasted her shot wide.

United got back into the game soon after the restart as Geyse found space again and Naalsund was on hand to turn home from in front of goal.

Yet it would prove to be a short-lived response as PSG quickly went the other way and regained the lead.

Martens did the damage again, grabbing her second from close range after more good work from Chawinga.

United looked for a second equalizer, but Katarzyna Kiedrzynek saved from Hannah Blundell and Geyse.

PSG took firm control of the tie just before the end when winger Baltimore outwitted Blundell and cut home Earps from a tight angle.

Still, United fought on and Katie Zelem scored another Kiedrzynek save from a free-kick.

Leah Galton then headed the ball into the net but the effort was disallowed for a soft foul on Kiedrzynek, who required treatment after colliding with the United player.

Toone hit the post with a spectacular effort in stoppage time, but it was not United’s night.

What’s next?

Manchester United return to WSL action on Sunday as they face Everton away at Walton Hall Park; starting at 1 p.m.