25 November 2005

Guimarães undone by countryman

Guimarães 1-1 Bolton

Bolton’s Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Tê struck a magnificent equaliser two minutes from time to deprive Guimarães of their first victory in the group stage of the UEFA Cup last night.

Jaime Pacheco’s team had seemingly snatched all three points through a Saganowski goal just two minutes before Vaz Tê’s stunning strike. The draw leaves Guimarães requiring at least a draw from their trip to Seville next week to keep alive their hopes of progress to the next stage of the competition.

In a cagey match of little goalmouth action, Guimarães belied their league standing of third from bottom of the Portuguese Liga by more than matching the fifth-placed team in the Premiership.

The defences were on top throughout and both goalkeepers were only called into serious action after the break.

Neca gave the English side a scare with a crisp shot on 57 minutes, which drew a fine save from Jaaskelainen.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce brought on Senegalese forward Diouf, who had an immediate impact, helping to wrest the initiative back for the Premiership club, and Stylianos Giannakopoulos forced Guimarães goalkeeper Paiva into a scrambling save on 76 minutes.

However, with the match seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Saganowski sent the home supporters into ecstasy when he dropped off his marker and perfectly headed Targino’s cross past Jaaskelainen.

Allardyce threw on Vaz Tê straight away with spectacular results, as the substitute’s superb 20-metre volley broke the hearts of his compatriots.

Guimarães:
Paiva, Mário Sergio, Dragoner, Cléber, Rogério Matias, Svard, Meireles, Benachour, Neca (Paulo Sérgio 82), Dário (Targino 60), Saganowski
Yellow Cards: Dragoner, Targino

Bolton:
Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Ben Haim, N’Gotty, Gardner, Nakata (Speed 59), Faye, Okocha (Vaz Te 87), Nolan, Borgetti (Diouf 64), Giannakopoulos
Yellow Cards: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien

Goals:
[1-0] Saganowski, 86
[1-1] Vaz Tê, 88