CAIRO: Wigan Athletic striker Amr Zaki’s first half penalty was enough to hand his team a 1-0 win over Bolton Wonderers in the Premiership on Sunday.
The goal, which is Zaki’s 10th in the season will earn Zamalek £500,000.
The player, who’s on a one-year loan at Wigan from Zamalek, had a contract term obliging the Latics to pay the Cairo club £500,000 once he scores 10 goals.
Bolton could have opened the score line on 17 minutes when Kevin Davies was released through on Mike Pillott, before Paul Scharner’s perfect tackle saved Wigan from conceding.
Wigan took a strong hold of the game afterwards as Lee Cattermole and Emile Heskey had two golden opportunities saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
On 44 minutes, Wigan were awarded a penalty after Andy Obrien’s tackle on Henri Camara. Zaki stepped up confidently to send Jaaskelainen the wrong way.
In the second half, Bolton almost scored when Danny Shittu’s header was cleared off the line by Wilson Palacios. TV replays suggested that the ball might have crossed the line.
On 63 minutes, Pollitt produced a brilliant double save to deny Bolton. Johan Elmander’s initial effort from inside the box was parried by the keeper, before he had palmed the rebound at full stretch.
Bolton had their best chance of the game in injury time, when Matt Taylor’s early cross was headed by Shittu ahead of Pollitt, but the striker bitterly watched the ball clinch the bar.
The win lifts Wigan to seventh place with 28 points, while Bolton are 11th on 23 points.
