Stoke reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history after thrashing Bolton 5-0 in the semi-finals at Wembley.
Walters bags brace as Potters smash Wanderers
Stoke reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history after thrashing Bolton 5-0 in the semi-finals at Wembley.
Matthew Etherington gave Tony Pulis's side an early lead and further goals from Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones were followed by a Jonathan Walters brace as Bolton imploded.
City became the first team for 72 years to win a semi-final by a five-goal margin as they matched Wolves' five-goal hammering of Grimsby back in 1939.
The victory set up a date against Manchester City on May 14 in the 130th FA Cup final.
The Potteries will finally get to experience the world's oldest cup competition and, win or lose, will be playing in the Europa League next year providing City claim a Champions League berth.
Nightmare
Owen Coyle will have nightmares about the manner his side conceded possession close to their own penalty area for the first goal.
Instead of simply booting the ball downfield, as surely their opponents would have done in a similar situation, they tried to pass their way out of danger.
It just made matters worse. Etherington seized on a loose ball, spotted an opportunity and whistled a shot into the bottom corner.
Jussi Jaaskelainen must have experienced an awful sense of deja-vu six minutes later when he was plunging towards the same side of his goal with equally little chance of preventing the net behind him bulging. This time Gary Cahill was at fault.
Generally such a calming influence at the heart of Bolton's rearguard, the England international managed to get only a half-hearted header to Andy Wilkinson's high ball.
Robert Huth has scored a number of goals for Stoke. None could have been sweeter than the first-time half-volley that left Jaaskelainen completely helpless once more.
Coyle sensed the bewilderment amongst his players but was powerless to help.
And when Martin Petrov lost possession to Jermain Pennant deep inside the Stoke half, the Bolton boss could only watch in complete disbelief as the former Liverpool man streaked forward 70 yards without a tackle being made on him before he slipped a pass through to Jones.
The bulky marksman, a club record £8million signing by Pulis last summer, steadied himself before burying his shot past Jaaskelainen.
In stark contrast to Bolton's desolation, Stoke's supporters were beyond ecstatic.
For those present old enough to remember the last two of those three semi-final failures, in 1970 and 1971 - the other was in 1899 - the feeling of satisfaction was great indeed.
Jones denied Etherington the opportunity to lash home a fourth and Jaaskelainen stopped a goalbound Jon Walters effort.
But any more would have been greedy for the Potteries outfit.
Changes
Coyle made a couple of changes at the break, with Petrov one of the men replaced, and shoved Johan Elmander into a more attacking role after being bypassed totally in midfield.
The move was akin to re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic as Stoke just resumed their attacking offensive.
Jones spurned a couple of opportunities as Bolton laboured, then he, along with Jon Walters and Ryan Shawcross managed to pass up a chance when it seemed easier to score.
Any fear Stoke had lost their nerve was quickly dispelled as Walters rammed home from 25 yards.
And when the man who battled his way back through the lower leagues after being dumped by Bolton in 2004 drilled the fifth past Jaaskelainen nine minutes from time, it merely completed Stoke's perfect day.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Stoke City |
| 0 |
Goals |
5 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
3 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
9 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 9 |
Corners |
6 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 68.3 |
Passing Success |
59.8 |
| 12 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
53.3 |
| 58.4 |
Possession |
41.6 |
| 47.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
52.1 |
|
