Manchester United’s hopes of a first appearance in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League ended with defeat by Paris St-Germain in the second round of qualifying.

But, despite a decent display, they were undone by a superior PSG side containing a truly ruthless finisher in Lieke Martens.

The Netherlands forward put the hosts ahead on the night, and in the tie, in the first half with a fierce strike after following up Tabitha Chawinga’s low shot.

She then restored the advantage with another neat finish past Mary Earps just a minute after Lisa Naalsund had equalised for United from close range.

Martens’ second goal – and the timing of it in particular – proved a hammer blow to the visitors, who conceded again soon after to a sublime chipped finish from a tight angle from Sandy Baltimore.

Leah Galton thought she had pulled one back with a looping header, but it was ruled out for a push in the back of PSG defender Clare Hunt and Ella Toone struck the woodwork late on with an acrobatic effort.

United manager Marc Skinner told MUTV: “If we really aspire to be a team that’s in Europe then you have to own it – you have to stand up, you have to be counted, you have to take the ball and use the ball.

“You have to be strong in your one v one, you have to dominate, you have to take your personality to the game and first half. I don’t think we did that, not enough. [In the] second half we were much better.

“We’re going to go and push in every game now to try and finish top of that [league] table because then you automatically qualify.”

The draw for the group stage takes place on Friday, with last season’s Women’s Super League winners Chelsea England’s sole representative.

United’s progress checked in Paris

Before Wednesday’s second leg, Manchester United manager Skinner challenged his team to create “a magical moment” in Paris.

Making it to the group stage of the Champions League would have served to underline an upward trajectory since the club reformed in 2018 that has seen United regularly finish in the top four of WSL following promotion from the Women’s Championship, capped off by last season’s second place.

However, despite pushing a strong PSG side – who also finished second in their league last season – all the way over the two legs of this tie they were ultimately found wanting at both ends of the pitch.

As they have in every game this season so far, they fell behind at the Parc des Princes, with PSG exploiting some lax defending. And despite hitting back early in the second half, a further lapse at the back to allow PSG to regain the advantage at a crucial moment undid them.

At the other end, Skinner’s side were able to repeatedly get into promising areas to hurt the home side, but failed to do so outside of Naalsund’s goal.

There will be some gripes at the disallowing of Galton’s goal, with her push on Hunt far from severe, but they had plenty of further chances to take the tie all the way.

Brazilian forward Geyse was lively throughout but at 1-0 she set up Toone for a good chance that the England forward pulled wide and then at 3-1 missed a great opportunity herself by dawdling in possession after breaking through, allowing the home defence to recover.

PSG march on to a fifth successive Champions League group stage, while United are left to focus on domestic matters, beginning with a trip to Everton in the WSL on Sunday.