Hull City continued their promising start to the season by edging past Stoke City in the Carabao Cup after a 1‑1 dead‑lock at the bet365 Stadium was settled by a 5‑4 penalty shoot‑out. The Tigers had already made headlines by beating Manchester United 2‑0 the previous weekend, and they repeated their composure in this cup tie, despite having to rely on the spot‑kick lottery to progress. The opening goal came from Slovak forward Robert Bozenik, who capitalised on a well‑timed cross from Wales winger Sorba Thomas. Thomas, who had recently turned down a transfer offer from Hull, cut in from the left flank, delivered a low, curling ball into the box and Bozenik rose above the Stoke defence to head the ball past goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
The strike gave the hosts an early lead and set the tone for a tightly contested match. Stoke responded swiftly. Just before the break, Kieran Dowell found space on the edge of the penalty area and slotted a precise finish to level the scores at 1‑1. The goal came from a sequence that saw Dowell receive the ball after a quick interchange with Liam Millar, who had been a constant threat on the left wing throughout the first half.
The equaliser arrived on the stroke of half‑time, leaving both managers to reassess their tactics for the second period. Hull’s manager Sergej Jakirović made a bold decision to rotate his squad, fielding eleven changes from the side that stunned United. Among the newcomers were full‑backs Lucas Herrington and Matt Targett, and midfielders Jens Hjerto‑Dahl and Lucas Gourna‑Douath, all of whom made their debut for the club. The early minutes saw Hjerto‑Dahl unleash a curling effort from the edge of the box that forced Josh Griffiths, who was standing in for Viktor Johansson, to make a reflex save.
The young midfielder’s confidence was evident, and his willingness to take on defenders added a fresh dynamic to Hull’s attacking play. Stoke, still reeling from a disappointing start to their Championship campaign – having lost their first two league games, including a 2‑1 defeat to Swansea – also made several adjustments.
Mark Robins introduced seven changes, handing starts to Robert Bozenik, Luke Graham, Ben Pearson, Tomas Rigo, Million Manhoef and Laurence Giani. The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Paddy McNair heading Liam Millar’s corner wide at the far post, while Hull’s defence struggled to contain the Stoke forwards. The second half opened with renewed intensity. David Akintola, returning to the Hull lineup for the first time since January, created two clear‑cut chances.
His first effort saw him round Griffiths after a well‑timed run into the box, only for the ball to strike the side‑netting. A few minutes later, Akintola found himself one‑on‑one with the keeper after a cross from Millar, but his shot was comfortably saved by Griffiths, who was proving to be a reliable presence between the posts. Both teams continued to trade chances, but neither could find a breakthrough. Hull’s attack, orchestrated by the energetic movements of Bozenik and the supportive runs of Millar, was repeatedly thwarted by Stoke’s disciplined backline.
Conversely, Stoke’s forward line, anchored by the experienced Sorba Thomas, kept probing for openings, but Hull’s defence held firm. When the referee blew the final whistle, the score remained 1‑1, sending the encounter to a penalty shoot‑out. The drama unfolded as new signing George Hirst saw his spot‑kick saved by Dillon Phillips, while Hull’s five takers all converted their attempts.
Mohamed Belloumi, who had been instrumental throughout the match, calmly slotted the decisive penalty, securing Hull’s place in the third round of the competition for the first time in six years. Post‑match, Hull’s captain reflected on the performance: “We played well overall.
The chances were few and far between, but when they did appear we were able to create quality opportunities. Our movement in the box was sharp, and the crosses found their target. I think we showed confidence and grew as a unit.” He also acknowledged the defensive lapses that led to the conceded goal, noting that the team needed to improve their tackling and positional awareness. Jakirović was equally upbeat, highlighting the depth of his squad: “We broke another record with two consecutive penalty shoot‑outs.
It’s a great chance for our younger players to gain experience. After the excitement against Manchester United, we wanted to keep the momentum and give more squad members a chance to prove themselves.
Players like Hidemasa Morita, Lucas Gourna‑Douath, Jens Hjerto‑Dahl, Abdulkadir Omur, David Akintola, and Cody Drameh all got valuable minutes. For Lucas Herrington, it was an excellent introduction to the pace and intensity of English football.” He praised Akintola’s effort, saying the forward could have scored a hat‑trick with a little more luck, but his energy and pressing were vital for the team’s overall play. The manager concluded that losing on penalties is never disgraceful, emphasizing that the performance itself gave Hull a platform to build on. In summary, Hull’s victory over Stoke was a testament to their squad depth, tactical flexibility, and mental resilience in high‑pressure situations.
The win not only extended their cup run but also provided a valuable learning experience for the many debutants who featured, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the season.