Diouf penalty rescues Bolton night in Bangkok

An El-Hadji Diouf penalty gave Bolton a 1-0 victory over Thailand in the final of the FA Premier League Asia Trophy in Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Saturday.

The Lancashire side emerged victorious despite a brave performance by the home side.

Diouf’s penalty gave Bolton victory in the final of the quadrangular tournament – which also featured Everton and Manchester City – but the performance will not have given Sam Allardyce’s side much confidence as the Thais dominated most of the game.

The lack of a finishing touch cost the home team as Diouf converted from 12 yards out after Keatprawut Saiwaew was adjudged to have handled the ball following Henrik Pedersen’s long throw into the area 12 minutes from time.

It was cruel luck for the Thais, who outplayed the English Premier League side for much of the game, with Jakkrit Boonkham and Piyawat Thongman causing the UEFA Cup qualifiers all sorts of problems with their pace and penetration.