Stoke vs Hadjuk Split

The last time Stoke City were in a European competition was 37 years ago. The game's on goal scorer, Jon Walters, wasn't even born. The goal made a good memorable night for the players and the fans. Stoke are now one game away from the Europa League's final qualifying stage!

It has been a long time since Stoke faced Ajax in the Uefa Cup in 1974, but by the third minute the Brit was filled with hope that we would see more European football this season. Walters's cool header came just after 3 minutes of game time. Matty Etherington recieved a pass from Delap from the left and then sent the all through the air and Walters calmly heads it into the corner of the goal.

Seconds later Stoke thought they had gone 2-0 up with a goal form Jones but it was ruled offside.

On the same day Stoke were struggling to a pre-season defeat at Aldershot last weekend, Split held Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona to a deserved goalless draw. But Stoke's hard,  punishing pre-season fitness programme in Austria had payed off, with the Stoke manager determined to ensure his first experience of European football as a manager was a win.

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Split didn't look like a side that could win in the first half, with Begovic not being troubled and Stoke could of increased their lead going into half-time with several good attempts. 

Kenwyne Jones forced a quick save from Danijel Subasic with a header from Etherington's free-kick before Shawcross came so close five minutes before the break when he nodded on a classic Rory Delap throw, with Hrvoje Vejic swiping the ball off the line.

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It soon was an hour into the match and Begovic finally was made to work when he saved a shot from Marin Tomasov.

Despite the flares set off by Split fans, there was City didn't set another bang as score a second goal. Even with Stoke's youth full-back, Ryan Shotton, being bought on in attack. Stoke won the game and has an advantage over Split in the next tie in Croatia.

Match details

Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic 7; Wilkinson 7, Shawcross 8, Huth 8, Wilson 7; Pennant 6 (Whitehead 75), Whelan 7, Delap 6, Etherington 8 (Shotton 88); Jones 7, Walters 8. Booked: Huth. Subs: Sorensen, Collins, Pugh, Diao, Woodgate.
Hajduk Split (4-5-1): Subasic 6; Oremus 6, Vejic 7, Maloca 5, Lima 5; Tomasov 6, Inoha 5, Brkljaca 4, Andric 6, Anas Sharbini 3; Vukusic 4 (Vukovic 64). Subs: Kalinic, Ljubicic, Ahmad Sharbini, Kukoc, Dens, Saric.
Referee: B Rafati (Germany).