Pre-Season 2010: Charlotte Eagles 0-3 Bolton Wanderers-goal.com

Pre-Season 2010: Charlotte Eagles 0-3 Bolton Wanderers-goal.com

Goals from Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander either side of the interval saw Bolton Wanderers get off to a winning start, capped by Martin Petrov’s debut strike in their pre-season opener in the USA, against Charlotte Eagles.

The United Soccer League Second Division side battled throughout, in a match which was delayed by 15 minutes with fans swamped to the Transamerica Field to watch the Premier League outfit in action.

But the visitors made the break-through in the eighth minute, as Cahill leapt above the crowd to head home debutant Petrov’s corner past Eagles goalkeeper Corbin Waller.
But the home side were not to be deterred, and the energetic approach to game continued throughout the first-half, with Owen Coyle’s side requiring a last-ditch tackle from Zat Knight to prevent Jorge Herrera from levelling the proceedings.

Summer signing Robbie Blake could have extended the Trotters’ lead, after latching onto Kevin Davies’ flick-on header, but the former Burnley forward dragged his effort wide.

The first-half would see two more efforts before the interval, one spurned, and the other and audacious attempt. First off, Petrov let fire from 30 yards and was a matter of inches from finding the net, while Luke Williams should have levelled for the Eagles, but blazed his effort over from eight yards.

After making an array of substitutions at the break, the Trotters were quick to regain their rhythm in the second half, despite only Petrov and Sam Ricketts prolonging their pre-season build-up.
Once more the home side forced a save from the visitors, with Ben Page forcing Hungarian stopper Adam Bogdan into action shortly after the break.

Nonetheless, it was the visitors who extended their lead. Swedish international Johan Elmander found the net on 50 minutes, scoring with a cool finish just inside the penalty area after good build-up play form Mark Davies.

Bolton went close to adding a third soon after, and again it was Petrov with the attempt. The Bulgarian free signing from Manchester City fire a curling free-kick at the Eagles’ goal which drifted narrowly wide.

Coyle’s side would only create one opportunity in the final 20 minutes, and fittingly it was their Bulgarian winger who took advantage.

Mustapha Riga sprayed a cross-field pass to the right flank, and after controlling the ball, Petrov charged towards the Eagles’ box before firing past substitute goalkeeper Erik Lefebvre from 25 yards, to secure a 3-0 victory for the Premier League side.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen (Bogdan 46), Ricketts (Basham 46), Cahill (Andy O'Brien 43), Knight (Samuel 46), Robinson (Ward 46), Petrov, Gardner (Cohen 46), Muamba, Taylor (Mark Davies 46), Kevin Davies (Johan Elmander 46), Blake (Riga 46)