Unlucky Bolton knocked out

Bolton Wanderers were unfortunately knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday evening, as they failed to become the last Premiership side left in the UEFA Cup as Sporting Lisbon defeated the Trotters 1-0 in Portugal thanks to a goal from Man Utd target Pereirinha wrapped up the result late on.

Sporting threatened in the opening minute as Ali Al-Habsi had to push away a Simon Vukcevic free-kick from 20 yards, but the Trotters suffered no further alarms in the opening stages.

Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Te had the best chance for the visitors, lashing a shot into the sidenetting after taking down a long ball forward by Nicky Hunt.

After the restart Bolton failed to find any rhythm and rarely got within striking distance of the home goal. Pereirinha tried his luck twice from distance in the early stages, but neither effort threatened to break the deadlock.

Liedson passed up with a clear chance from 12 yards, as he drilled his shot straight at Al-Habsi when it looked easier to score after a cutback from the right left him in acres of space.

Pereirinha made no mistake with five minutes left to play, as a quick counter-attack sliced the Bolton rearguard wide open and the midfielder cut in from the right to curl a superb left-foot shot into the top far corner of the net.

Unfortunately for Bolton, there was no time left to equalise and their European adventure is over for another season.