Stoke City player ratings vs Fleetwood as Viktor Johansson heroics win it in front of new boss
Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City are through to the Carabao Cup last 16 thanks a shoot-out win over Fleetwood
Stoke City are through to the Carabao Cup last 16 thanks to Viktor Johansson heroics in a penalty shoot-out win over Fleetwood in front of prospective boss Narcis Pelach.
Michael Rose had seemed to be through thanks to a second-half header for a team sent out by caretaker boss Ryan Shawcross, who was animated in the technical area.
Stoke, with the impressive Sol Sidibe pulling strings from midfield, hit the woodwork twice in the first half while not quite always keeping the backdoor shut. Johansson had to be alert on more than one occasion – and it looked like they would regret not making sure of the tie when Rhys Bennett equalised at a corner in the 90th minute.
It meant the game went to penalties in front of the Boothen End and Johansson saved three – two to his left and one to his right – to mean Sidibe and Emre Tezgel’s successful spot kicks won it for the Potters despite misses from Tom Cannon and Wouter Burger.
