Podolski brace not enough as Bolton draw with Bayern
Updated: 2007-11-09 09:35
BERLIN - Goals either side of half-time by Bayern Munich's forgotten hero Lukas Podolski was not enough as Bolton Wanderers fought back to claim a 2-2 draw in Thursday night's UEFA Cup clash.
 Munich's striker Lukas Podolski, left, celebrates with teammate Franck Ribery, after Podolski scored, during their Group F UEFA Cup soccer match between Bayern Munich and Bolton Wanderers in Munich, southern Germany, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. [Agencies] |
Podolski, 22, was given a rare chance to impress Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld after an injury-hit 12 months and the youngster seized his chance with both hands with an equaliser in Munich before putting his side ahead.
But their Group F rivals Bolton had come to the Allianz Arena to get a result and after Ricardo Gardener gave them an early lead, Kevin Davies scored a late equaliser as both sides claimed a point.
"I am quite disappointed with the result," said Hitzfeld, whose side top the group with four points, while Bolton have picked up two points after their second draw.
"The team didn't play well, we took control of the game, but we were still too care-free, which really frustrated me.
"But we have four points now and I don't think we will have a problem to qualify."
With new coach Gary Megson at the helm, Bolton may be just one place off the bottom of the Premier League, but they took a shock lead after eight minutes as Gardener capitalised on poor Bayern defending.
A long-throw from the left was cleared badly and Daniel Braaten touched the ball on for Gardner to fire home off the post via a deflection.
Bayern are unbeaten in their last seven home UEFA Cup games and sprang to life after the early set back.
Podolski, voted the best young player at last year's World Cup, has struggled for game-time this season while first-choice forwards Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni have bagged 16 Bundesliga goals between them.
"Poldi" shone alongside Klose in the starting line-up and bagged a superb goal on the half hour mark which he started and finished.
On the edge of the penalty area, he pushed the ball to Bayern's French star Franck Ribery who passed across to Bastian Schweinsteiger and his deft flick was smashed past Bolton's Oman goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi by Podolski.
Bolton had their chance to recapture the lead when lone striker Davies dragged the home defence wide just before half-time but pushed his shot too far wide of Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
It was 1-1 at the break, but Bayern took the lead when Ribery's pass found Schweinsteiger down the right flank and his cross was met at the near post by Podoslki on 49 minutes.
With Bayern facing defending Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart on Saturday less than 48 hours after this game, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld used his bench to make a host of changes.
The switches disturbed the Germans' rhythm and Bolton capitalised to get back on level terms.
With eight minutes left, there was a scramble in the Bayern defence and when Bolton's Kevin Nolan headed the ball down, Davies drilled his shot past Kahn.
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