Cup glory for Wanderers

9:41pm Thursday 21st February 2008

By Gordon Sharrock

Atletico Madrid 0 Wanderers 0 Wanderers win 1-0 on aggregate BOLTON produced a brilliant defensive display to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after holding Spanish giants Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw.

After their greatest night in Europe Wanderers will now face Sporting on March 6 and 12, after the Lisbon side won 3-0 in Basle and 5-0 on aggregate.

Leading 1-0 through an El-Hadji Diouf goal from the first leg at the Reebok Stadium, Wanderers got the draw they needed after producing a perfect defensive display.

Atletico created most of the goalscoring opportunities, but they could find no way through, with Luis Garcia blazing over one of their best chances in the first half.

It was all hands to the pump in the Bolton defence by this stage, with Atletico pushing more and more men forward in a bid to keep their UEFA Cup dreams alive.

Atletico appealed for a penalty with 10 minutes remaining when Forlan's cross struck Jlloyd Samuel, but Polish referee Jacek Granat was unmoved and the hosts had to settle for a corner instead.

Atletico were becoming increasingly frustrated in the closing stages, and Reyes tried a speculative effort from 25 yards out that flew harmlessly over.

Home goalkeeper Abbiati twice came up for a late Atletico corner and free-kick, but Bolton comfortably saw off the danger before being able to celebrate a famous success.

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