FA Cup

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Bolton Wanderers

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 27 March 2012

Goals from Ryan Nelsen, Gareth Bale and Louis Saha help Spurs beat Bolton 3-1 at White Hart Lane to earn them an FA Cup semi-final tie with Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur have set up an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Chelsea after beating Bolton Wanderers 3-1 at White Hart Lane tonight.

The tie was a rearranged game following the abandonment of the original fixture 10 days ago due to Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest.

Spurs were left frustrated by Wanderers keeper Adam Bogdan during the first period, as the Hungarian produced countless saves to keep the game goalless.

The Trotters stopper made a double stop to deny Spurs midfielders Jake Livermore and Luka Modric before he foiled Gareth Bale following the Welshman's link-up play with Emmanuel Adebayor.

He was then called upon to save from Bale at the near post and once more to push away Scott Parker's effort from the edge of the box.

Even when the hosts did eventually beat Bogdan, they were denied by the woodwork when Rafael van der Vaart's free kick struck the bar.

Finally Spurs were able to gain a lead, with the goal coming from an unlikely source in the shape of Ryan Nelsen.

The centre half powerfully headed into the top corner on 74 minutes to end Bolton's resiliency, which was further dented by Spurs' second moments later.

After being denied by Bogdan on multiple occasions earlier in the game, Bale eventually beat the Bolton stopper when he shot in following Jermain Defoe's pass.

The visitors pulled a goal back late on courtesy of a Kevin Davies header but Louis Saha's fine curling shot in injury time secured the result for Harry Redknapp's side.