The qualifier for the UEFA Women’s Champions League saw an unanticipated victory as Peamount United from Ireland outdid Dinamo Minsk in extra time, with a deciding goal scored by Kerri Letmon. The game, which took place in Croatia on Wednesday, ended with a score of 2-1 in Peamount’s favour, after a 1-1 draw in the original ninety minutes. The Irish squad, managed by James O’Callaghan, will now compete against either Slovakia’s Spartak Myjava or Croatian hosts, Osijek, in the pathway final scheduled for Saturday.
The game was a close contest, as Peamount’s first goal, scored by Ellen Dolan, was soon equalised by Dinamo’s Anna Sas. Nonetheless, Letmon’s performance in the additional portions of the game allowed the defending SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions to seize the win.
Peamount’s participation in the European football marked their return after their last appearance in 2021 when their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were thwarted by Serbia’s Spartak Subotica. The game in Croatia could not have started better for them.
Letmon’s decisive goal in the extra time ensured Peamount’s triumphant advance past Dinamo Minsk in the Champions League qualifiers. The initial goal of the match was delivered by Dolan, who aimed accurately into the Dinamo net’s lower corner with an assist from Niamh Farrelly. Peamount held onto their lead until a water break midway the first half but was equalised by Dinamo in the 33rd minute when Sas capitalized on an Alina Charlionak corner.
Upon the game’s resumption, both teams made substitutions, with Dinamo’s boss Yuri Maleev introducing three new players and O’Callaghan inserting Letmon into the game. Letmon was later joined by substitutes Michelle Doonan and Ciara Maher. Despite Dinamo taking 13 shots to Peamount’s five during the normal play, goalkeeper Niamh Reid-Burke of the Irish team demonstrated her resilience and became an adamant presence on the field.
The ex-international player from the Republic of Ireland contributed significantly to the Dublin team forcing the game into extra time. In a similar fashion to the game’s outset, the Peas established an assertive start in the beginning phase of the additional time.
Letmon became instantly popular by scoring a goal on her debut with the Peas during a home league match in July. This match, against Athelone Town, saw the previous DLR Waves and Shelbourne standout extend her fame by skilfully directing a shot out of the reach of Dinamo’s Ekaterina Kovalchuk in the 96th minute of the game.
PEAMOUNT UNITED line-up featured Reid-Burke; O’Callaghan, relieved by Brophy in the 100th minute, Berrill, Moloney, and McCartan; Farrelly replaced by Maher in the 88th minute; Watkins swapping with Letmon in the 52nd minute, Fitzgerald, substituted by McManus in the 100th minute, Duggan, and Beirne replaced by Doonan in the 74th minute; and Dolan.
The DINAMO-BSUPC team included Kovalchuk; Slesarchik, Maher, Sas, Maniukova, and Kapustina, who shifted with Kalinouskaya in the 46th minute; Kharashchak, swapped with Kavaliova in the 46th minute, Charlionak replaced by Siniauskaya in the 71st minute, Artishevskaya for Harshkova in the 46th minute; Pilipenko, and Shuppo for Kapysha in the 100th minute.
Referee for the game was T Misja from Slovenia.