26 October 2007, by Tom Kundert

Late equaliser sees Braga hold Bolton

Bolton 1-1 Braga

Braga made a steady start to the group stage of the Uefa Cup with a creditable 1-1 away to Bolton.

In a game between two evenly matched teams, Diouf seemed to have won the three points for the Premiership club with a 66th-minute header, but substitute Jailson equalised five minutes from time to secure what could prove a vital point for Jorge Costa’s side.

The first half was a disappointing affair, with a disjointed Bolton showing why they have struggled in the league this season, while Braga were unable to muster much in the way of an attacking threat.

An early effort by Cesar Peixoto for Braga and an Anelka header on 20 minutes were they only moments of relative danger for either goalkeeper.

The second half started much in the same vein, with neither team managing to apply pressure on the dominant defences. However, midway through the second period Diouf was left unmarked in the Braga box and made no mistake with a thumping header from an excellent Davies cross.

Lively substitutes

Jorge Costa immediately brought on Stelvio and Jose Manuel and the Arsenalistas at last began to trouble Bolton with some neat passing and a quicker tempo to their play. The Portuguese team were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 69th minutes when Obrien brought down Jose Manuel in the box.

Jailson came on for the final 15 minutes and it proved an inspired substitution as the Brazilian produced a stunning header into the top corner from a Joao Pereira cross to equalise 5 minutes from time.

Braga survived a late onslaught from the hosts to come away from the Reebok Stadium with a share of the spoils.

In the other match played in Group F, Bayern Munich lived up to their tag as hot favourites to finish top of the section with a 3-2 victory away at Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade.

Bolton:
Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Obrien, Cid, Speed, Garder (Andranik, 82), McCann, Guthrie (Diouf, 61), Anelka, Davies
Yellow Cards: Cid

Braga:
Paulo Santos, Joao Pereira, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez, Cesar Peixoto, Vandinho, Andres Madrid (Jailson, 76), Castanheira (Stelvio Cruz, 67), Wender (Jose Manuel, 67), Jorginho, Linz
Yellow Cards: Castanheira

Goals:
[1-0] Diouf, 66
[1-1] Jailson, 85