Hull City continued their promising start to the season by edging Stoke City in a Carabao Cup tie that was ultimately decided from the spot. After a 2-0 victory over Manchester United earlier in the week, the Tigers travelled to the bet365 Stadium and produced a disciplined performance that saw the match finish 1-1 before the home side fell 5-4 in the ensuing penalty shoot‑out. The opening goal came from Hull’s own Robert Bozenik, who capitalised on a clever cut‑back from Wales winger Sorba Thomas. Thomas, who had recently been the subject of a rejected transfer approach from Hull, drifted in from the left, delivered a low cross and set Bozenik up to finish with a neat header that gave the visitors an early lead.
Stoke responded before the break when Kieran Dowell, operating on the wing, found space on the edge of the box and slipped a ball across the face of goal. The Slovakian striker, who had previously found the net against Hull on New Year’s Day, rose above the defense and headed the ball past goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, restoring parity just before the interval.
Both managers made extensive changes to their line‑ups. Hull’s Sergej Jakirovic, who had overseen the shock win over United, rotated eleven players, handing full debuts to Lucas Herrington and Matt Targett while also introducing midfield duo Jens Hjerto‑Dahl and Lucas Gourna‑Douath. The fresh faces made an immediate impact; Hjerto‑Dahl, in particular, unleashed a curling effort that tested the Stoke keeper, though it was ultimately pushed wide by Josh Griffiths. On the Stoke side, after a shaky start to their Championship campaign – including a 2-1 defeat to Swansea on opening day – Mark Robins also shuffled his squad, bringing on Bozenik, Luke Graham, Ben Pearson, Tomas Rigo, Million Manhoef and Laurence Giani.
The first half was a tight affair with few clear chances. Both sides exchanged a handful of half‑chances, but the goalkeepers were largely untroubled.
Viktor Johansson, rested for the match, watched as Griffiths, making his debut in goal for Hull, denied Dowell’s long‑range effort just before the break. However, the second half saw Stoke push forward, and a well‑timed run from Millar saw him deliver a pinpoint cross that found Bozenik again.
The Slovakian’s header beat Griffiths and gave Stoke the lead, prompting a swift response from Hull. David Akintola, making his first appearance for the Tigers since January, was instrumental in creating two golden opportunities for his side after the interval. He first nudged a Targett cross wide of the right‑hand post before rounding Griffiths and blasting the ball into the side‑netting after a neat lay‑off from Millar. His second chance was equally promising, but once again Griffiths produced a comfortable save, keeping the scores level at 1-1.
With regulation time ending in a stalemate, the match moved to a penalty shoot‑out. Stoke’s new signing George Hirst saw his spot‑kick saved by Hull’s keeper Dillon Phillips, while the Tigers were flawless, converting all five of their penalties.
Mohamed Belloumi stepped up to seal the victory, sending Hull through to the third round of the competition – a feat the club had not achieved in six years. Post‑match, Hull captain reflected on the performance: "We played well overall. The chances were limited, but we created a few good opportunities and defended strongly.
Our movement in the box was sharp and the crosses found their targets. I think we showed confidence and controlled the tempo, even though we conceded a goal that was typical of our occasional lapses. Losing on penalties isn’t a disgrace; the shoot‑out was tight and we’ll take the positives from the game – the performances, the minutes for the youngsters, and the fact we left unscathed." Sergej Jakirovic added his thoughts on the squad rotation: "We’ve now broken another record – two penalty shoot‑outs in a row! The game gave us a chance to test several players after the Manchester United win, and the excitement and pressure were valuable for the squad.
We used the fixture to give minutes to Hidemasa Morita, Lucas Gourna‑Douath, Jens Hjerto‑Dahl, Abdulkadir Omur, David Akintola, Cody Drameh and young Lucas Herrington, who is adapting well to the intensity of English football. Akintola was relentless; he could have scored a hat‑trick, showing great energy and pressing, even if he missed a couple of chances." Overall, the encounter highlighted Hull’s depth and willingness to trust younger talent in a knockout setting.
While the match was tightly contested and required the drama of a penalty shoot‑out to separate the sides, Hull’s ability to maintain composure under pressure and execute their set‑pieces proved decisive. The victory not only extends their cup run but also provides a confidence boost as they look to build momentum in both league and cup competitions.