Chelsea took the points with a first-half injury time goal from Michael Ballack.
Bolton began well but Chelsea came to dominate the first period. Jussi Jaaskelainen was kept busy with a string of top class saves. Bolton only got forward sporadically in the first 45 minutes, though it has to be said that their defence reduced Chelsea to long raneg shots for most of that period.
Bolton came back into the game in the second half. Dioufy had a couple of good efforts and Anelka had chances. Ben Haim’s drive was also impressive.
Yet a win against Chelsea was not to be.
There was not a lot between the clubs. If Bolton are a poor man’s Chelsea, then Chelsea are a rich man’s Bolton. Both teams showed a lot of guts and determination in the game. A set piece goal decided the match.
You couldn’t imagine Arsenal rolling up their sleeves and scrapping like that!
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