Championship: Hull City produce astonishing second-half turnaround
Stoke City 1 - 3 Hull City
Hull City staged a remarkable second-half comeback, spoiling Narcis Pelach's first match as Stoke City manager and securing Tim Walter’s first win as Tigers boss on his seventh attempt.
Stoke appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory, leading 1-0 at half-time courtesy of Ben Wilmot’s 30th-minute header.
However, Kasey Palmer sparked Hull’s revival with a 63rd-minute equaliser, heading in the rebound after his penalty was saved by Viktor Johansson. This was the first of three Tigers goals in a 16-minute blitz.
Substitute Regan Slater capitalised on a Wilmot mistake to fire in a powerful shot from 18 yards in the 77th minute. Just two minutes later, Palmer's weak shot took a fortuitous deflection off Wilmot’s calf and slipped through Johansson’s legs to make it 3-1.
EFL: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
A closer look at what happened
Stoke had chances early on. Bae Jun-Ho squandered a great opportunity in the first minute, while Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas narrowly missed with a 20-yard effort.
Hull had struggled to create much in the first half, with their only notable attempt being a wayward Palmer free-kick, before Stoke took the lead on the half hour. Million Manhoef’s low shot was saved by Hull keeper Ivor Pandur, but from the resulting corner, Jun-Ho delivered a perfect cross for Wilmot to head in at the near post.
Stoke seemed in control and likely to score again, but a moment of rashness changed the game. Eric Bocat got tangled up with Mohamed Belloumi in a non-threatening area of the box, leading to a penalty. Palmer’s spot-kick was saved, but he reacted quickest to nod in the rebound.
Stoke’s frustration deepened when Wilmot’s slip allowed Hull to press forward, with Slater showing great skill to score the go-ahead goal. The comeback was completed when Wilmot’s misfortune continued, as his own goal trickled through Johansson’s legs to give Hull their first win since 24 April, coincidentally also in the Midlands, against Coventry.
The best reaction to this match
This is how GMCR Football responded to the match.
A fantastic night for Hull City
— GMCR Football (@GMCRFootball158) September 21, 2024
They staged a remarkable second-half comeback, spoiling Narcis Pelach's first match as Stoke City manager.
What did you think of this dramatic night in the Championship?
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