Stoke City 1-1 Hull City (4-5 pens): FLW report as Tigers edge past Potters in EFL Cup tie | OneFootball

FLW report from the Bet365 for this EFL Cup second round clash

Hull City progressed to the third round of the EFL Cup for the first time in six years, defeating Championship outfit Stoke City 5-4 on penalties after an initial 1-1 draw at the Bet365 Stadium.

It was the Potters who took the lead after an opening period dominated by Sergej Jakirovic's team, with Sorba Thomas picking out Robert Bozenik, who headed home from close-range.

However, Mark Robins' side were pegged back minutes later through an impressive finish from Kieran Dowell moments before half-time.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time, before George Hirst missed Stoke's fourth spot-kick of the resulting penalty shootout, with Mohamed Belloumi converting the winning spot-kick as Hull netted all five.

Stoke City 1-1 Hull City (4-5 pens)

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The first clear-cut chance came Hull's way after seven minutes, but Josh Griffiths was equal to the task as David Akintola fired a low shot into his grasp after neat play from Dowell.

The Potters goalkeeper was then at full stretch minutes later as another tidy passing move from the Premier League side ended up at the feet of Jens Hjerto-Dahl, who looked to curl the ball into the top corner.

Thomas, who has been heavily linked with Hull, looked to showcase exactly why after 30 minutes. The Welsh international was found in space by Million Manhoef, but after beating Cody Drameh on the left flank, Bozenik couldn't turn his low cross past Dillon Phillips.

Thomas then looked to turn provider for Tomas Rigo after he burst into the box, but the Slovakian's glancing header fell wide of the target, before the former then forced the Hull goalkeeper into his first save with a fizzing effort.

The Potters were eventually able to make their pressure tell though, as Bozenik, who scored the winner against Hull on New Year's Day, got the better of Paddy McNair to turn Thomas' teasing cross past Phillips.

However, the lead would only last for six minutes as Dowell fired an emphatic finish past Griffiths after Millar caused further problems down Hull's left flank on the stroke of half-time.

The first period of the second half was rather cagey in comparison, but somehow Akintola was unable to turn the contest on its head on the hour-mark after rounding Griffiths, sending an effort into the side-netting.

Drameh then sent an inch-perfect ball the way of the Nigerian midway through the half, but his second effort in quick succession caused no harm for Griffiths from just outside the Stoke penalty area.

After the game hit a lull, Rigo looked to beat Phillips with a low strike from a tight angle with 15 minutes to go but the experienced shot-stopper stood firm, before Tigers substitute Belloumi found Akintola, who was denied by Griffiths once more.

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There were chances for both Ben Wilmot and Drameh in the five minutes of second-half stoppage-time, but the tie was eventually decided on penalties, where the Tigers progressed after Phillips denied Stoke summer signing, Hirst, whilst the visitors didn't flinch from 12 yards with Belloumi netting the decisive spot-kick.

FT: Stoke City 1-1 Hull City ( 4-5 pens)

Player Ratings

Stoke City

Josh Griffiths - 7

Ben Johnson - 7 (Lawal 64" - 6)

Ben Wilmot - 6

Luke Graham - 7

Laurence Giani - 6.5 (Anderson 81" - 6)

Tomas Rigo - 6.5

Ben Pearson - 6.5

Million Manhoef - 7 (Gallagher 64" - 6.5)

Ethan Galbraith - 6 (Soumare 46 - 6.5)

Sorba Thomas - 8

Robert Bozenik - 7 (Hirst 63" - 6)

Unused Subs: F.Fielding, G.Kelly, T.Martin, B.Junho

Hull City

Dillon Phillips - 6

Cody Drameh - 7

Lucas Herrington - 7

Paddy McNair - 6

Matt Targett - 6.5 (Stroud 77" - 6)

Lucas Gorna-Douath - 7

Jens Hjerto-Dahl - 6 (Morita 59" - 6.5)

Abdus Omur - 6 (Belloumi 77" - 6)

Kieran Dowell - 7.5 (Sellars-Fleming 81" - 6)

Liam Millar - 7.5

David Akintola - 6.5 (Slater 81" - 6)

Unused Subs: K.Tzolakis, J.Egan, N.Mendy, R.Giles

Mark Robins reacts to Stoke City's EFL Cup exit

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Reacting to Stoke's penalty defeat, Robins said: "I thought we played alright.

"There weren't many clear-cut openings in the game, one or two mistakes. They had a sight of goal, we had some sights of goal.

"I thought our goal was really good," the Stoke boss added. "I thought we moved the ball really well, the movement was brilliant in the box and the cross was really good. It finds him (Bozenik) and he scores again against Hull.

"I want to then see us grow in confidence and 'boss games', and I thought we 'bossed' the game. I thought we were pretty good.

"We gave a goal away which was typical of us, from our own goal-kick. It's a great finish but really poor from our perspective," Robins claimed.

"I thought we were the better of the two teams."

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Reacting to Hull's second cup victory of his tenure, Jakirovic said: "It was an opportunity for other players to play after Man United, where there was a lot of excitement but some problems with our players.

"We used this competition to give other players a chance and so they have a rhythm, as you never know when we might need them.

"We used this game for (Hidemosa) Morita, for (Lucas) Gourna-Douath for Jens (Hjerto-Dahl), Abdus (Omur) and (David) Akintola as a striker, as we don't have many in this position," the Bosnian added.

Asked about his intriguing superstition as the Tigers tucked away all five penalties: "(I watched) some," Jakirovic revealed.

"I don't like watching penalties!"

Attendance

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The attendance at the Bet365 Stadium was 7,141, including 1,256 Hull City supporters.