Hull City continued their early-season cup run after a dramatic penalty shoot‑out saw them eliminate Stoke City from the Carabao Cup. The Tigers had already impressed by beating Manchester United 2‑0 a few days earlier, and they carried that confidence into the bet365 Stadium where they held the Potters to a 1‑1 draw before prevailing 5‑4 on spot‑kicks. The opening goal came from Slovak forward Robert Bozenik, who took advantage of a precise cross from Wales winger Sorba Thomas.
Thomas, who had recently turned down a transfer offer from Hull, cut in from the left flank, whipped a low ball into the box and Bozenik rose to meet it, heading the ball past Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson – who was rested for the match – and into the net. The goal broke the deadlock early and gave the home side a brief lead. Stoke responded just before the interval. Kieran Dowell, the young Hull midfielder making his debut, arrived late into the penalty area and managed to level the scores as the first half drew to a close.
The equaliser was a well‑timed finish that left the visitors confident heading into the break. Both managers made a slew of changes for the cup tie.
Hull’s Serbian boss Sergej Jakirović rotated eleven players after the United win, handing debuts to full‑backs Lucas Herrington and Matt Targett, as well as midfielders Jens Hjerto‑Dahl and Lucas Gourna‑Douath. The changes paid off, especially from Hjerto‑Dahl, who opened up the play with a curling effort that forced Stoke defender Josh Griffiths to make a crucial block. Stoke, still reeling from a poor start to their Championship campaign – they had lost their first two league games, including a 2‑1 defeat to Swansea – also made extensive alterations.
Mark Robins introduced a fresh back line featuring Bozenik, Luke Graham, Ben Pearson, Tomas Rigo, Million Manhoef and Laurence Giani, all of whom started the match. The first half was a tight affair with few clear‑cut chances.
Paddy McNair headed a Liam Millar corner wide at the back post, while both sides exchanged a handful of long‑range attempts that were either saved or forced off target. As the half‑hour mark approached, Griffiths, who was given the nod in goal, denied Dowell’s first effort from distance, keeping the score level. The second half opened with renewed energy. David Akintola, returning to the Hull lineup for the first time since January, created two golden opportunities.
After a cross from Targett drifted wide, Akintola rounded Griffiths and struck the ball into the side‑netting. A few minutes later, a second chance saw his shot comfortably saved by the same keeper.
Stoke’s new signing George Hirst stepped up for his first penalty of the night but saw Dillon Phillips dive low to keep it out. The shoot‑out then swung in Hull’s favour as they converted all five of their spot‑kicks, with Mohamed Belloumi’s successful penalty sealing the victory and sending the Tigers into the third round for the first time in six years.
Post‑match, Hull’s captain reflected on the performance: “We played well overall. The chances were limited, but when they came we were ready. Our movement in the box was sharp and the crosses were accurate, which is why Bozenik could find the net again.
I think we showed confidence and controlled large parts of the game.” He added that losing on penalties was not a disgrace and praised the young players who had made their debuts, noting that the experience would be valuable for the club’s future. Jakirović was equally upbeat, highlighting the depth of his squad: “We’ve now broken another record – two penalty shoot‑outs in a row. This competition allows us to rotate and give game time to players who might not start in the league. After the United win there was a lot of excitement and a bit of pressure, so we used this match to test Hidemasa Morita, Lucas Gourna‑Douath, Jens Hjerto‑Dahl, Abdulkadir Omur, David Akintola, Cody Drameh and young Lucas Herrington.
It’s essential for them to adapt to the intensity and pace of English football.” He praised Akintola’s effort, saying the forward could have scored a hat‑trick and showed great energy and pressing. Stoke’s manager, meanwhile, lamented missed opportunities and defensive lapses, acknowledging that the team had given away a goal that was “typical of us” – a poorly defended set piece that resulted in Bozenik’s header. He stressed that the team needed to improve their tackling and positional awareness to avoid conceding such easy chances in future fixtures. The victory not only extended Hull’s cup run but also provided a morale boost after a shaky start to the league campaign.
With the squad rotating heavily, the manager now has a clearer picture of which players can step up when called upon. The win also underscores the unpredictable nature of knockout football, where a single penalty can determine a team's fate. Looking ahead, Hull will aim to build on this momentum in the next round of the Carabao Cup, while also focusing on improving their league form to climb out of the early‑season slump.
For Stoke, the defeat serves as a reminder that defensive solidity and capitalising on set‑piece opportunities will be vital if they hope to turn their season around. Overall, the match was a showcase of youthful exuberance, tactical flexibility, and the drama inherent in cup competitions. Hull’s ability to manage a squad of rotating players, maintain composure in a penalty shoot‑out, and give valuable experience to emerging talent will likely pay dividends as the season progresses.