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Reading late show ends Bolton´s Champions League hopes
BOLTON, England (AFP) - Bolton's faint Champions League hopes died with a late collapse at the Reebok Stadium as Reading ran out 3-1 winners on Saturday.
Sam Alardyce will be fuming as his side conceded three goals in the final six minutes to leave them with a mathematical but unrealistic chance of overhauling Arsenal for fourth spot and a date in Europe's top competition next season.
It all looked rosy for Bolton after 64 minutes of a dire match as Nicolas Anelka's shot deflected off Nicky Shorey and left American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann beaten.
With Arsenal being held to a draw at Tottenham, that would have cut the gap between fourth and fifth to six points, with three games to play.
But a Kevin Doyle brace and another goal from Stephen Hunt ensured Bolton's deficit is nine points, the maximum available from their remaining games. They would need to make up a goal differential of 30 in three games to surpass Arsenal - an almost impossible task.
The victory, though, propelled Reading back into the UEFA Cup picture, moving them above Tottenham on goal difference and into the final, crucial European qualification place.
It all went wrong for Bolton six minutes from time as Senegalese Abdoulaye Meite chopped down Doyle in the Bolton box and the Reading striker dusted himself down before slotting home the resulting penalty.
Five minutes later and Doyle tapped home his second to turn the game on its head after Steve Sidwell missed a cross. It was his air-shot that distracted the Bolton defence, though, leaving Doyle the simple task of scoring his 12th of the campaign.
Moments later Hunt was left unmarked in the box to head home a cross from Shorey and put the final nail in Bolton's Champions League coffin.
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