On This Day: Bolton v Sporting CP

Six years ago today and the world was a different place for Bolton Wanderers supporters. We had a competent side and in retrospect, perhaps we had a competent manager. Actually no, scrub that, he was a knobhead.

Wanderers cast aside relegation fears for a night as they welcomed Portuguese giants Sporting CP to the Reebok Stadium in this last 16 UEFA Cup first leg.

Despite a gallant effort, Macedonian winger Simon Vukcevic's second-half equaliser was enough to rescue a draw and give Sporting a crucial away goal. Bolton had taken a first-half lead through Gavin McCann, who sidefooted the ball home from 14 yards after Matt Taylor's initial effort was blocked.

Just after the break, Heidar Helguson saw his header crash off the bar and Bolton were soon made to pay.
With 12 minutes remaining Vukcevic, who had earlier hit the bar, smashed the ball home with a left-footed shot.

The home side's task before kick-off was made all the more difficult when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was injured in the warm-up. He was replaced in the starting line-up by Oman international Ali Al Habsi, only was making his fifth appearance for the Trotters since his arrival from Lyn Oslo in January 2006. Captain Kevin Nolan also failed a late fitness test with his place going to McCann.

Sporting started nervously and seemed uneasy at Bolton's physical approach. That was evident in the 12th minute when Helguson and Sporting defender Anderson Polga challenged for the ball deep in the Sporting half. Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio succeeded only in colliding with his own player and received a bloody nose for his troubles.
After two minutes of treatment, the 20-year-old Patricio found himself in deeper trouble when McCann's long punt was chased by Helguson.

Patricio came racing out of his area and not only looked to have handled the ball well outside his area - but also caught Helguson late with an ill-judged challenge which left the Iceland striker poleaxed on the ground. Helguson rose gingerly to his feet but there was no punishment for Patricio.

Soon after Bolton opened the scoring with a goal that so typifies the footballing philosophy which harvested so much success under former boss Sam Allardyce. Hunt's long pass forward to the ever-willing Kevin Davies, was flicked on dangerously just inside the 18-yard box. Helguson touched the ball on to Taylor and although his shot was blocked, McCann strode forward to sidefoot the ball home right-footed from 14 yards.

Six minutes before the break it was almost 2-0 but Taylor's right-foot shot from 20 yards flew inches wide of
Heidar Helguson was unlucky to see his second-half header hit the bar. Sporting failed to deal with a long cross from Ivan Campo as Davies flicked the ball on at the near post. Helguson was arriving just behind him to head goalwards only for the ball to rebound off the crossbar and to safety.

But there was a growing sense of unease among the home supporters as their side failed to convert their dominance into goals, particularly when Leandro Romagnoli hit the bar with a brilliant diagonal shot. Those Bolton fans' fears proved well-founded in the 68th minute when Vukcevic produced a devastating finish to draw Sporting level.

Bolton defender Gary Cahill allowed Rodrigo Tiui to head Miguel Veloso's long punt forward and Vukcevic cracked an unstoppable left-foot volley past Ali Habsi from 18 yards.

Both sides had chances late on through Vukcevic and Taylor but Sporting left with the advantage ahead of the second leg in Lisbon.

Bolton Wanderers: Al Habsi, Hunt, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Gardner, Campo (Teymourian 84), Davies, Joey O'Brien (Guthrie 67), McCann, Taylor, Helguson (Giannakopoulos 55).

Subs Not Used: Walker, Samuel, Meite, Vaz Te. Booked: Joey O'Brien, McCann.

Goals: McCann 25.

Sporting: Rui Patricio, Abel (Romagnoli 46), Tonel, Anderson Polga, Grimi, Veloso, Bruno Pereirinha, Joao Moutinho, Izmailov (Gladstone 85), Vukcevic, Tiui (Adrien Silva 79).

Subs Not Used: Stojkovic, Silva, Purovic, Farnerud. Booked: Grimi.

Goals: Vukcevic 69.

Att: 25,664

Ref: Alon Yefet (Israel)