Hull City’s newest Premier League recruits continued their impressive start to the season by dispatching Stoke City in the Carabao Cup after a 1‑1 dead‑lock at the bet365 Stadium forced the tie into a penalty shoot‑out. The Tigers, who had stunned Manchester United just days earlier, edged the Potters 5‑4 on penalties to move into the third round for the first time in six years. The opening goal came from Hull’s Slovak forward Robert Bozenik, who capitalised on a clever cut‑inside run by Wales winger Sorba Thomas.
Thomas drifted in from the left, whipped a low cross into the box and Bozenik met it with a well‑timed header that slipped past Stoke’s keeper Viktor Johansson, who had been rested for the match. The strike gave the visitors an early lead and set the tone for a tightly contested encounter. Stoke responded just before the interval when Kieran Dowell, the young English attacker, found space at the edge of the penalty area and curled a shot that forced Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips to make a reflex save.
However, the ball rebounded to Dowell, who tapped in the equaliser on the stroke of half‑time, restoring parity and sending both sets of supporters into a nervous anticipation of extra time. Neither side could break the deadlock in the second half. Hull’s manager Sergej Jakirovic, who had already made eleven changes to the side that beat Manchester United, continued to rotate his squad, giving full debuts to Lucas Herrington and Matt Targett, as well as midfielders Jens Hjerto‑Dahl and Lucas Gourna‑Douath.
The young midfield duo showed promise, with Hjerto‑Dahl in particular stretching his body to unleash a curling effort that drifted toward the far post before being smoothed away by Stoke defender Josh Griffiths. Stoke’s own attempts were equally spirited. Paddy McNair rose to meet a Liam Millar corner, only to head the ball wide at the back post, while Sorba Thomas, who had previously turned down a transfer bid from Hull, continued to menace the defense with his incisive runs and precise deliveries.
Despite a few half‑chances, the match remained level, and the referee signalled the end of 90 minutes with the score still tied. The game then moved to the high‑pressure environment of a penalty shoot‑out. Hull’s first taker, Mohamed Belloumi, calmly slotted his spot‑kick, and the Tigers proceeded to convert all five of their attempts. Stoke, on the other hand, saw new signing George Hirst see his penalty saved by Phillips, and the remaining attempts fell short, handing Hull a 5‑4 victory.
Post‑match reactions highlighted the significance of the win for both clubs. Hull’s captain reflected on the performance, noting that the team had created several clear chances despite a generally cautious opening exchange. He praised the movement in the box and the quality of the crosses, particularly Bozenik’s decisive header, while also acknowledging the defensive lapses that led to the conceded goal.
Jakirovic, speaking after the shoot‑out, emphasized the importance of using the cup competition to give younger players valuable minutes. He mentioned that the match provided an opportunity for Hidemasa Morita, Lucas Gourna‑Douath, Jens Hjerto‑Dahl, Abdulkadir Omur, David Akintola, Cody Drameh and debutant Lucas Herrington to adapt to the speed and intensity of English football. "We broke another record – two penalty shoot‑outs in a row – and it shows the depth of the squad," he said. "The experience is vital; you never know when you’ll need these players later in the season." David Akintola, returning to Hull’s lineup for the first time since January, made a strong impression despite not finding the net.
He forced two golden opportunities in the second half, first by steering a Targett cross wide before rounding Phillips and then firing into the side‑netting after a pass from Millar. His effort was saved on the second attempt, but his energy and pressing were praised by the manager. Stoke’s manager, after the disappointment of losing a penalty shoot‑out, pointed out the resilience of his side, especially given the recent rejection of a transfer bid for Sorba Thomas.
He highlighted Thomas’s contribution to the opening goal and stressed that the team would learn from the narrow defeat. Overall, the match underscored Hull City’s growing confidence under Jakirovic’s leadership. The side has already demonstrated an ability to compete with top‑flight opposition, and the cup run provides a platform for further development of its youthful roster.
With the third‑round draw looming, the Tigers will look to build on this momentum, while Stoke City will regroup and aim to convert the lessons from a tightly fought encounter into future success.