Everton started their pre-season preparations with a 5-4 victory over Stoke City on penalties, after a 0-0 draw in normal time to kick off the bi-annual Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore.

The Blues started the much brighter side, as Kevin Mirallas showed glimpses of what he’s capable of early on. The Belgian received the ball on the right hand side and cut deep into the Stoke the penalty box, only to fire a low left-footed shot straight at new Stoke Goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

However, the best chance in the game’s early stages fell to Stoke on the 10-minute mark. Odemwingie, perhaps to his own surprise, found an opportunity to lash onto a low cross from young midfielder Ollie Shenton. His shot flew just wide from 10 yards out.

Stoke got more into the game after that chance, as the balance of possession became more even. The next best chance fell to England centre-back Phil Jagielka, who got his head on the end of a Mirallas free-kick. The chance went begging as the header sailed over the bar.

Due to the humid conditions, both sides took a pre-planned water break on the 25-minute mark. The Toffees continued to look most dangerous down the right-hand side through Mirallas, giving Stoke’s inexperienced left-back Teixera problems early on.

On the flip-side, Arnautovic was the Potters’ main threat down the left hand side. He was through on goal in the 30th minute after he capitalized on an error from veteran right-back Tony Hibbert, only for Phil Jagielka to make a crucial, perfectly timed tackle from behind to clear the danger.

The match continued at a relatively fast pace for pre-season. Both teams traded half-chances and decent sequences of play.

Right at the end of the first half Everton striker Romelu Lukaku finally found the net. The Belgian got on the end of a through ball from Steven Pienaar and went round the goalkeeper for the easy tap-in. However, the goal was disallowed, as he was controversially deemed offside.

Goalless at the break but positives to take

The highlight of the goalless first half was perhaps the impressive displays by young players on both teams. 17 year-old Stoke midfielder Ollie Shenton did not look out of place and looked assured on the ball. He made a few lovely looking passes as well. On the other side 21 year-old Everton centre-back Tyias Browning made some impressive tackles and put on a mature performance.

Everton made five of their six allowed substitutions at half-time, with both new signings Tom Cleverley and the returning Gerard Deulofeu coming on, as well as Leon Osman, John Stones and Steven Naismith. The players departing are Hibbert, Barry, Mirallas, Pienaar and Barkley. Meanwhile, Stoke made only one change with Charlie Adam coming on for young Olli Shenton.

The best chance for Everton so far came in the first minute of the second half, as Naismith got on the end of a beautiful one-two with Osman and fired a good shot, only for impressive goalkeeper Haugaard to brilliantly tip the ball over the bar.

Stoke missed another great chance on the hour mark after Stephen Ireland hit the ball straight at Tim Howard from point-blank range after good work from Odemwingie on the right hand side.

Seconds later, Deulofeu missed a great opportunity for Everton. The Spaniard made a good exchange with Naismith but had his shot easily saved by Haugaard.

There was another water break midway through the second half as the intensity of the games started to dwindle.

Deulofeu came close to being through on goal twice more, but American International Geoff Cameron dealt with both situations expertly. The same player then sent Naismith through one on one with the ‘keeper Haugaard, who won the duel after a strange scramble.

Lukaku was then offered too late chances to win the game, failing to capitalize on both. The first came after a capitalizing on a mistake by substitute Marco van Ginkel and firing his shot just wide. The second was smartly blocked by Haugaard as he raced off his line before Lukaku could make proper contact.

Game goes to penalties

Chances were few and far between in the second half and unsurprisingly the game went to penalties after a goalless draw.

Everton scored all five of their penalties, courtesy of Lukaku, Cleverley, Stones, Deulofeu and Jagielka. Stoke, meanwhile, converted four penalties out of five, with Adam, Jonathan Walters, Phil Bardsley and Peter Crouch scoring and only Van Ginkel missing for the Potters, handing Everton the victory and a place in the final.

They will now face the winner between Arsenal and a Singapore Selection XI in Saturday’s final.