Zenden put Sunderland ahead at the Reebok stadium |
Zat Knight’s own goal gave Sunderland a late winner that all but secures their top-flight status for another season.
After Daniel Sturridge’s shot hit the bar, Boudewijn Zenden raced clear to put Sunderland ahead before half-time.
Sturridge missed further chances to score for Bolton before substitute Ivan Klasnic headed in with only three minutes left to draw the hosts level.
But Sulley Muntari ran through to send in a goabound shot that a sliding Knight could only help over the line.
Should Blackpool fail to win at Tottenham later on Saturday, Sunderland’s survival will be guaranteed.
Although it looked in doubt when Bolton snatched a late equaliser, the visitor’s win was testament to the determination, discipline and hunger of Steve Bruce’s side as they overcame a Bolton team who had won their last five home matches.
While the game was short on fluency and creativity, there was plenty of endeavour on display – and it was the Black Cats’ battling qualities that brought them only their second win in 12 league games.
Bolton, already safe in mid-table, might have been the perfect opposition for Sunderland but the hosts did not simply roll over.
On-loan Chelsea forward Sturridge was lively throughout, and on a different day would surely have scored at least once.
But there was still a sense that Owen Coyle’s side have yet to fully shake off that crushing FA Cup semi-final defeat by Stoke as they succumbed to their third consecutive defeat.
Bolton’s confidence might have boosted had Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet not blocked Matthew Taylor’s low shot early on.
Instead, it was Sunderland who begun to thrive and they should have taken the lead when Jordan Henderson’s free kick from the left picked out Phil Bardsley but he sent his header off target from an unmarked position at the near post.
Bolton hit back, though, and Sturridge had two chances to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form.
But in the first his shot was blocked by John Mensah and in the send his effort was deflected on to the bar by Phil Bardsley, who performed heroics in the second half when he flung his body in the way of another effort the striker.
Just as the first period was coming to a close, Sturridge was again denied by excellent defending, this time Anton Ferdinand preventing him scoring from a rebound after Mignolet had spilled Matthew Taylor’s shot.
And seconds later, Sunderland’s earned huge reward for their brave resistance when Zenden was put clean through on the counter attack and he waltzed past Jussi Jaaskelainen to slot into an empty net.
It might not have been unreasonable to expect an injury-ravaged Sunderland to come out after the break and not take any risks.
Stephane Sessegnon and Zenden seemed to have other ideas and the pair quickly forced Jaaskelainen into a decent stop and then Johan Elmander into a block.
At that point, Bruce’s men – even without the likes of latest injury victims Lee Cattermole and Kieran Richardson – looked comfortable.
But when Bolton stepped up a gear it took a superb piece of defending from Bardsely to block Sturridge’s goalbound effort and the rebound was sent over by Chung-Yong Lee.
Soon after substitute Rodrigo Moreno stung the hands of Mignolet with a fizzing drive that the keeper could only parry.
The signs of a Bolton recovery were there and the hosts got their equaliser when the Moreno sent over a teasing cross for fellow substitute Ivan Klasnic to finish off with a downward header.
With only three minutes left, it seemed Sunderland have had two points snatched away from them.
But in stoppage time, Muntari latched on to a through ball from Sessegnon and the substitute’ s shot was dragged over the line by Knight as he tried to clear.
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Saturday, 7 May 2011
Barclays Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton | 1-2 | Sunderland | FT |
| (HT 0-1) | |||
|
|||
BOLTON
SUNDERLAND
Possession
- Bolton 50%
- Sunderland 50%
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+5:16 The referee blows for the end of the match.
- 90:00+5:12 Sulley Muntari takes a shot. Save made by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- Correction – 90:00+2:46 Assist on the goal came from Sulley Muntari.
- 90:00+2:46 Sulley Muntari provided the assist for the goal.
- 90:00+2:46 GOAL – Zat Knight:Bolton 1 – 2 Sunderland Zat Knight scores an own goal from 6 yards. Bolton 1-2 Sunderland.
- 90:00+1:05 Handball by Stephane Sessegnon. Free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen. Kevin Davies has an effort at goal. Phillip Bardsley gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Rodrigo Moreno. Jack Colback fouled by Rodrigo Moreno, the ref awards a free kick. Simon Mignolet restarts play with the free kick.
- 89:45 Zat Knight challenges Boudewijn Zenden unfairly and gives away a free kick. Phillip Bardsley takes the direct free kick.
- 87:55 Unfair challenge on Zat Knight by Stephane Sessegnon results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 86:53 Rodrigo Moreno delivers the ball,
- 86:48 Assist by Rodrigo Moreno.
- 86:48 GOAL – Ivan Klasnic:Bolton 1 – 1 Sunderland Ivan Klasnic grabs a headed goal from close range. Bolton 1-1 Sunderland.
- 85:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Colback by Kevin Davies. Simon Mignolet takes the free kick.
- 83:59 Unfair challenge on Boudewijn Zenden by Kevin Davies results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John Mensah.
- 83:06 Johan Elmander sends in a cross.
- 81:20 Substitution Steed Malbranque leaves the field to be replaced by Sulley Muntari.
- 79:44 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Rodrigo Moreno from the right by-line.
- 79:28 Effort from 20 yards by Rodrigo Moreno. Save by Simon Mignolet.
- 72:59 Nedum Onuoha challenges Gary Cahill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 72:59 Substitution Rodrigo Moreno on for Chung-Yong Lee.
- 72:59 Substitution (Bolton) makes a substitution, with Ivan Klasnic coming on for Matthew Taylor.
- 72:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ahmed Elmohamady by Paul Robinson. Boudewijn Zenden takes the free kick. Jordan Henderson sends in a cross, Gary Cahill makes a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Boudewijn Zenden,
- 72:01 Jack Colback fouled by Daniel Sturridge, the ref awards a free kick. John Mensah takes the free kick.
- 68:07 Matthew Taylor has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
- 65:33 Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Simon Mignolet makes a save. Close range effort by Chung-Yong Lee clears the crossbar.
- 61:55 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Boudewijn Zenden, save made by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 58:16 Foul by John Mensah on Kevin Davies, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Chung-Yong Lee from left wing, Simon Mignolet makes a save.
- 55:40 Boudewijn Zenden has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Johan Elmander gets a block in. Daniel Sturridge fouled by Nedum Onuoha, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Johan Elmander. Effort on goal by Matthew Taylor from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
- 55:40 Booking Kevin Davies shown a yellow card.
- 55:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nedum Onuoha by Kevin Davies.
- 53:35 Jordan Henderson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Robinson. Paul Robinson crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Anton Ferdinand.
- 50:28 Effort from the edge of the box by Daniel Sturridge goes wide of the left-hand upright.
- 47:46 Jack Colback gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Daniel Sturridge. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gretar Rafn Steinsson.
- 46:22 Stephane Sessegnon takes a shot. Save by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 45:31 The official flags Chung-Yong Lee offside. Free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.
- 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
- 45:01 Substitution Ricardo Gardner on for Fabrice Muamba.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:11 The first half comes to an end.
- Correction – 45:00+0:42 The assist for the goal came from Stephane Sessegnon.
- 45:00+0:42 Steed Malbranque provided the assist for the goal.
- 45:00+0:42 GOAL – Boudewijn Zenden:Bolton 0 – 1 Sunderland Boudewijn Zenden gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-1 Sunderland.
- 44:28 Shot by Matthew Taylor from 25 yards. Save by Simon Mignolet.
- 40:09 Boudewijn Zenden takes a shot. Gretar Rafn Steinsson gets a block in.
- 38:36 Close range header by Johan Elmander goes over the bar.
- Correction – 37:18 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Chung-Yong Lee, Chung-Yong Lee takes a shot. Corner taken right-footed by Chung-Yong Lee, save by Simon Mignolet. Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Taylor. John Mensah makes a clearance.
- 37:18 Inswinging corner taken by Chung-Yong Lee, Chung-Yong Lee takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken by Chung-Yong Lee from the left by-line, Simon Mignolet makes a save. Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Taylor from the right by-line. Clearance made by John Mensah.
- 34:15 Daniel Sturridge has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
- 33:29 Phillip Bardsley has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
- 32:49 Kevin Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Anton Ferdinand. Simon Mignolet takes the direct free kick.
- 32:26 Ahmed Elmohamady concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Robinson. Paul Robinson takes the direct free kick.
- 29:36 The offside flag is raised against Jordan Henderson. Indirect free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 27:07 Jack Colback takes a shot. Save by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 25:51 Daniel Sturridge produces a volleyed left-footed shot from 12 yards. Blocked by John Mensah.
- 24:20 Corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden from the right by-line, clearance by Kevin Davies.
- 22:42 Zat Knight challenges Stephane Sessegnon unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is swung over by Jordan Henderson, Phillip Bardsley produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
- 20:08 Nedum Onuoha gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Taylor. Johan Elmander fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
- 19:07 The ball is swung over by Nedum Onuoha, blocked by Paul Robinson.
- 18:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Zat Knight on Stephane Sessegnon. Ahmed Elmohamady takes the free kick.
- 15:57 Unfair challenge on Paul Robinson by Stephane Sessegnon results in a free kick. Jussi Jaaskelainen takes the free kick.
- 14:42 Corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden.
- 11:16 Matthew Taylor produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
- 10:44 Matthew Taylor takes a shot. Save by Simon Mignolet.
- 9:06 Foul by Paul Robinson on Jordan Henderson, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Boudewijn Zenden.
- 7:57 Kevin Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on John Mensah. Free kick taken by Anton Ferdinand.
- 6:39 Johan Elmander concedes a free kick for a foul on Boudewijn Zenden. Shot on goal comes in from Boudewijn Zenden from the free kick.
- 5:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ahmed Elmohamady on Paul Robinson. Direct free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
- 3:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Robinson on Ahmed Elmohamady. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Boudewijn Zenden, Gary Cahill makes a clearance.
- 1:23 Boudewijn Zenden takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Jack Colback produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
- 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
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Bolton 1-2 Sunderland