Stoke City stormed into their first ever FA Cup final after a first-half goal spree inspired a 5-0 win against Bolton in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley. Tony Pulis's side will face Manchester City in the final on May 14 after three goals from Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones in the space of 19 minutes destroyed Bolton before the match had even reached half-time.
Jonathan Walters capped Stoke's perfect day with two more goals after the interval. Stoke were appearing in their first semi-final in the competition since 1972, the year they also won their last significant piece of silverware when they beat Chelsea in the League Cup final.
Now they could eclipse even that famous achievement if they beat Roberto Mancini's expensively-assembled outfit at Wembley next month.
After City's tense victory over Manchester United on Saturday, this was a far more one-sided affair.
With on-loan Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge cup-tied, Bolton boss Owen Coyle opted for Ivan Klasnic as Kevin Davies's strike-partner, while Pulis recalled Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen in place of Asmir Begovic.
It was immediately clear that Stoke wouldn't be unnerved by the occasion.
In the opening seconds Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was forced to rush off his line to save a Walters shot as the striker burst clear.
Bolton were still struggling to come to terms with the occasion when Stoke took the lead in the 11th minute.
A series of misplaced passes gifted possession to Etherington and the former West Ham winger was given time and space to shoot past Jaaskelainen from 20 yards. It got even better for Stoke six minutes later when German defender Huth latched onto Gary Cahill's poor headed clearance and drove in a shot that Jaaskelainen failed to keep out despite getting both hands on the ball.
Stoke had been beaten in successive FA Cup semi-finals in 1971 and 1972, but any fears of another letdown were completely banished when Jones punished more poor Bolton defending in the 30th minute.
Jermaine Pennant robbed Martin Petrov in midfield and ran at the Bolton defence before sliding the ball through Cahill's legs for Trinidad striker Jones to slot home with ease.
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