Stoke remain top of Europa League Group E following an eventful 3-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv that saw both sides reduced to ten men.
Three goals and two red cards at the Britannia Stadium
Stoke remain top of Europa League Group E following an eventful 3-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv that saw both sides reduced to ten men.
The Potters' prowess from set-pieces came to the fore again on Thursday as Kenwyne Jones, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton eased Tony Pulis' men home.
The hosts needed just 12 minutes to open the scoring, with Jones rising highest to power home a header from a perfectly flighted corner.
Stoke doubled their lead on 24 minutes when an unmarked Jerome met a free-kick from Matthew Etherington to glance past a hopelessly exposed Guy Haimov.
Ryan Shotton had the home support in dreamland eight minutes later when he rolled the ball into an empty net following good work by Jerome, but the Potters striker saw his night end prematurely when he was shown a second yellow card shortly before the interval.
The second half failed to produce any more goals, but it did produce a second dismissal on 55 minutes.
Yoav Ziv lost his boot in a challenge with Shotton and was promptly given his marching orders after kicking it at the assistant referee.
Changes
Potters boss Pulis made seven changes to his starting XI, with Etherington, Marc Wilson, Matthew Upson and captain Ryan Shawcross the only survivors from Saturday's Premier League victory over Fulham.
Jones, who was making his first appearance since picking up a hamstring injury a month ago, Jerome and Robert Huth were among those coming into the team, while Peter Crouch and Jon Walters were named as substitutes.
After the Israeli visitors had made an assured-looking start, Stoke almost took the lead in the 11th minute when Jerome headed Shotton's long throw against the bar and saw Maccabi goalkeeper Haimov push away his follow-up.
Within seconds of firing that warning, the Potters made the breakthrough, Jones rising unmarked in the box to crash home Dean Whitehead's corner.
Wilson sent a chip into Haimov's arms and Jerome glanced Huth's cross wide.
The hosts then made it 2-0 from another set-piece, Etherington curling in a free-kick from the right in the 24th minute and Jerome nodding the ball in.
Maccabi attempted to muster a response and Upson got across to block a shot from Moussa Konate, but Stoke were soon back on the attack and extended their advantage just after the half-hour mark.
Jerome found himself through one-on-one with Haimov and took the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper before squaring to Shotton, who converted neatly.
The Potters' momentum showed little sign of letting up, with Jones bouncing another header into Haimov's body and Jerome lifting an effort over the bar from Shotton's cross.
Incensed
The first half ended on a sour note for the home side, though, as Jerome - who had earlier been booked for dissent - was shown a second yellow card when Greek referee Anastasios Kakos ruled that he had caught Ziv with his arm, a decision which left Pulis incensed.
The Stoke supporters also made their unhappiness clear, booing Ziv every time he touched the ball having felt his reaction to Jerome's contact had been overly dramatic.
So it was to the great delight of the home crowd when Ziv was dismissed himself in comical fashion 10 minutes after the restart.
Frustrated that no free-kick had been awarded when he was tackled by Shotton by the touchline, Ziv kicked out and managed to fire his boot - which had come loose in the challenge - into the assistant referee.
His immediate apologies were to no avail and he received a straight red card.
Once the commotion had subsided, Jones almost netted his second of the evening with a header from Shotton's cross that went inches wide.
At the other end, Konate sent a shot off-target before Pulis threw on Walters and Wilson Palacios for Huth and Etherington.
Soon after, Palacios fed Jones, who drew a good save out of Haimov.
Another Potters substitute, Andy Wilkinson, fired an attempt wide in stoppage time but Stoke's work was done.
| Stoke City |
Team Statistics |
Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
1 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 4 |
Corners |
3 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
5 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 1 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 85.5 |
Passing Success |
88.9 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 68.8 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
| 36.3 |
Possession |
63.7 |
| 48.7 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.3 |
| 366 |
Total Passes |
659 |
| 15 |
Total Crosses |
7 |
| 107 |
Lost Balls |
120 |
| 46 |
Recoveries |
53 |
|
