YOUNGSTERS AT THE DOUBLE TO SECURE EUROPEAN SUCCESS
STOKE City under-21s chalked up a memorable European victory as goals from Emre Tezgel and Dara Mcguinness beat Hertha Berlin at the bet365 Stadium.
Tezgel, recently back from injury, is coming into form for Kevin Russell’s junior Potters and followed up his brace last week in the league against Derby County with a penalty here in the Premier League International Cup - in front of an impressive, raucous away following from Germany.
Mcguinness gave him a welldeserved breather in the second half and wrapped up the win within 60 seconds of coming onto the pitch when he latched onto a knockdown from Nathan Lowe.
Hertha had their moments too but this was a good way for Stoke to bounce back after an opening day defeat in this competition against Braga.
Tezgel was presented the first chance of the evening when he intercepted a pass and drove at the Hertha defence to force a save from Philip Sprint in the 12th minute. Hertha followed up two minutes later from a quick free kick laid off to Joel Bustamante for a low cross into the penalty area, but no one could get onto the end of the delivery to open the scoring.
The visitors came inches away three minutes later as Florian Haxha bent a 25-yard free-kick around the wall before rattling the crossbar.
Stoke soaked up the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty when Kahrel Reddin was tripped running into the box and Tezgel dispatched from the spot in the 30th minute.
There was a chance for a second when Matt Baker dispossessed Mustafa Abdullatif and played Lowe through but his shot didn’t trouble Sprint. The last chance of the half saw Hertha’s Tony Rolke’s cross on the left-hand side met by the head of Derry Scherhant but his effort was off target and away for a goal kick.
In the second period Stoke came out and commanded the ball better. Tom Sparrow was a general in midfield and Lowe was causing the Hertha defence problems with his reading of the game to intercept passes.
Tezgel was presented with a golden opportunity to get his second on the stroke of the hour mark. He pressed the Hertha goalkeeper into making a mistake but couldn’t lift the ball past him to finish the job.
Haxha had the chance to level in the 66th minute with an open goal gifted to him but somehow, he put his shot wide of the post and out for a goal kick.
Tezgel made way for Mcguinness in the 76th and he made an instant impact scoring a minute later. Sparrow’s cross hung up in the air before bouncing off a Hertha Berlin head and leaving Mcguinness with the perfect opportunity to put the ball home on the volley.
That goal sealed the win for Stoke, who can now look forward to their next game in this tournament back here against Paris Saint-germain.