Updated at 23.09
PEAMOUNT UNITED SEALED a brilliant extra-time victory in Croatia this morning to advance to the final stage of the first round of Champions League qualifiers, while a hat-trick by Republic of Ireland international Saoirse Noonan also sent Celtic through to a Round 1 final.
A 96th-minute goal by substitute Kerri Letmon earned Peamount a 2-1 victory over Belarusians Dinamo-BGU FK at the Stadion Gradski vrt in Osijek.
Jim Callaghan’s side will now advance to the final of their four-team qualification tournament, the winner of which will advance to Round 2 of qualification. Peas will face either hosts Osijek or Slovakian outfit Spartak Myjava this Saturday.
Victory over Dinamo-BGU was no mean feat to start. Their side packed with Belarus internationals, Dinamo found themselves behind to an early Ella Dolan strike before Anna Sas levelled from a corner on 33 minutes.
A cagey affair eventually required extra time and it was a composed finish by replacement Kerri Letmon in the first period, which ultimately separated the sides as the champions of Ireland held out for a 2-1 victory.
Celtic, meanwhile, were playing in an equivalent tournament in Lithuania and found themselves 1-0 down to Finnish champions KuPS Kuopio when Roosa Ariyo netted on 18 minutes.
The first-time Scottish champions trailed until the hour mark when Elena Sadiku sprung former Cork City attacker Saoirse Noonan from the bench for her Champions League debut.
Noonan levelled with a close-range header three minutes later and the sides cancelled each other out as far as extra-time thereafter.
The day belonged to Noonan and Celtic, however, as the three-cap Ireland international fired home seconds into the afters, and again on 98 minutes, to send the Celts through to their own Round 1 final.
They’ll face either tournament hosts Gintra or Moldovans Agarista Anenii Noi for a place in Round 2.
In addition, Ireland international Katie McCabe completed 90 minutes as Arsenal earned an emphatic 6-0 win over Rangers.
The Gunners, in their first competitive match of the season, held a slender 1-0 lead at half-time before running rampant in the second period.
Caitlin Foord scored four goals while Alessia Russo was also on target and a late Kim Little penalty compounded the SWPL leaders’ woe.
Jonas Eidevall’s side next play Atletico Madrid on Saturday evening for a place in the second round of qualifying.
