March 13, 2008 11:09 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Pereirinha Clinches It For Sporting

Sporting 1-0 Bolton Wanderers (Sporting win 2-1 on aggregate)

A superb strike by Pereirinha clinched a quarter-final place for Sporting in Lisbon, against an unrecognisably weakened Bolton side who from the first whistle needed to score to stay in the tie but were unable to create any meaningful chances. Sporting had laboured to break the deadlock in a generally flat cup tie, but ultimately deserved their victory.

It came five minutes from the end when Pereirinha cut in from the right flank and fired the ball into the top corner. Bolton had needed to score before the goal went in, and their situation didn't changed - the only difference was that a Bolton goal would now only have be enough to force extra-time, whereas earlier it would have taken them through. But despite acquitting themselves reasonably well, Bolton never really looked like scoring. Now they can oncentrate on avoiding relegation.

Whether or not it was because they saw the unfamiliar Bolton team-sheet and assumed victory would be a formality, Sporting were sloppy and lethargic throughout the first half in Lisbon, where the home side knew a goalless draw would be enough for them, by virtue of the goal scored by Simon Vukcevic at The Reebok a week ago.

The longer the first perriod went on, the more Bolton boss Gary Megson must have been wishing he'd risked one or two of the eight 'injured'' first-teamers who were resting back home in Lancashre, because this tie was there for the taking

Megson had named defender Gary Cahill as captain for the first time, in a team that showed six changes from the one which drew 1-1 in the first leg. Ricardo Vaz Te and Heidar Helguson started upfront in an eleven sent out with instructions to attack, since Bolton could only win the tie by scoring at least one goal.

As for Sporting, they had leading scorer Liedson back in their line-up, the Brazilian having recovered from a thigh injury.

Sporting started enterprisingly enough, winning a free-kick and corner inside the first 30 seconds. Vukcevic curled the frre-kick round the wall but Al Habsi dived to his right to push the ball round the post.

Nicky Hunt went on a marauding run down the right to latch on to a nicely weighted Stelios pass and earned a throw-in deep in Sporting territory as Bolton signalled their attacking intent.

And there was more encouragement for Bolton as Vaz Te took the ball down on the edge of Sporting's area and shot, but into the side-netting.

Another Bolton attack saw Danny Guthrie force a second corner inside a minute with a fierce shot that keeper Rui Patricio turned behind.

At the other end, Sporting earned a corner when Cahill headed the ball behind, and Meite headed he flag-kick clear at the back post.

Bolton were finding some joy down the right flank through Guthrie as Bolton sensed that Sporting were well below their best. in the Trotters' goal, Al Habsi was rarely troubled, but doing what he had to do well.

Sporting had a chance to go in front when a Pereirinha cross from the right was flicked on by Moutinho, but Izmailov diverted the ball over the bar. And after a nice passing move, Romagnoli fired well off target.

Vaz Te was looking lively for Bolton whenever he had possession, but Bolton were not carving out any threatening chances of their own, and the onus was on them to score or be eliminated.

Al Habsi dived to his left to save from Romagnoli just before the break, with Bolton comfortable but needing to show more ambition.

With the second-half undrway, Pereirinha fired in a shot from distance that took a deflection and had Al Habsi scurrying to his right. From the corner, the keeper had to gather down by his left-hand post as Liedson headed the ball goalwards.

Bolton replaced Helguson, giving youngster Nathan Woolfe his first-team debut, before Liedson had a good chance to give Sporting the lead but shot straight at Al Habsi, who parried it away.

Then, with Sporting gradually increasing the pressure, the goal came, Pereirinha cutting in from the right and finding the top corner with a superb shot.

Bolton still needed a goal, but still looked unlikely to carve one out. As they tried to get forward in number, Sporting broke and Al Habsi had to turn the ball over the bar for another corner from Moutinho's shot.

After a couple more corners Sporting were happy to run the clock down in the Bolton half.

And when the full-time whistle blew, Bolton joined Everton and Tottenham in going out of the Uefa Cup. The can now be fully focused on trying to preserve their Premier League status,.