Yeah, that score is a real thing. At halftime of the FA Cup Semi-Final between Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers, Tony Pulis’s men lead by an incredible three goals to none. They scored all three of their goals in the first 30 minutes, and there seems to be no way back for Bolton. Both of the first two goals were completely preventable, and came as a result of their own errors.
Stoke City Vs. Bolton Wanderers, FA Cup Semi-Final: 3-0 Halftime. No, Really.
The first goal came from Matthew Etherington, who scored on a fantastic long-range effort in the 11th minute. Paul Robinson made an inexcusable poor pass deep in his own end, completely missing Johan Elmander, and Etherington capitalized with an unstoppable shot.
The second goal, like the first, was a great strike that could have been prevented. In the 17th minute, following a set piece, Bolton failed to clear their lines as they sent aimless headers out of the box with no one to get onto them. Eventually, one fell to defender Robert Huth, who smoked a volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen, who got a hand to it and probably could have done better.
Goal No. 3 also came off of a giveaway, but at least this one was in the attacking half for Bolton. After picking up the ball in his own half, Jermaine Pennant took off on a great run down the right hand side before playing a through ball to Kenwyne Jones, who finished calmly past Jaaskelainen.
Simply put, it was a dominant half for Stoke. Bolton looked completely lost, and the score absolutely explains the play on the pitch. Bolton were extremely poor, and they deserve to be losing by multiple goals.
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