1-0, MIN. 16, ALTIDORE 1-1, MIN. 31, MUNIESA 1-2, MIN. 71, MUNIESA
Two goals from Marc Muniesa saw Stoke City progress to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland.
It was Sunderland who took the lead through Jozy Altidore before Muniesa equalised after half an hour, Jack Butland was forced into two great saves early in the second half before Muniesa grabbed his second to secure the victory.
It took a while for this game to get going but it was the away side that took the foothold, Steven N’Zonzi hit a long range effort but it rolled into the arms of Costel Pantilimon.
It was Sunderland who took what was an undeserved lead 15 minutes in, Jozy Altidore did well to hold of the Stoke defender the striker turned well before he smashed it low beyond Jack Butland and into the bottom corner.
Stoke got their equaliser just after the half hour mark, Moussa Assaidi showed some good play out on the wing before he played it inside to Muniesa who showed great technique to glide through the Sunderland defence and smash it between the legs of Pantilimon at the near post.
Adam Johnson restored their lead almost immediately for the home side, the winger’s curling costless kick was heading towards the top corner but Jack Butland did brilliantly to get across the goal and palm it away. Stoke continued to press to take the lead with N’Zonzi coming the closest, a deflected header fell to the midfielder but his shot was just wide of Pantilimon’s post.
It was the home side who pressurised early in the second period with a brilliant through ball found Billy jones who stretched to play it back into the area but Robert Huth was there to prevent the pass. Sunderland had a brilliant chance to regain their lead just after the hour mark, a brilliant cut back from Jordi Gomez found William Buckley in the penalty area who hit his effort into the floor and Butland did brilliantly to get his hand to it.
'Keeper Butland had a magnificent game and denied the home side again in the 67th minute, Gomez was found out on the right in acres of space and he attempted to curl the ball into the far bottom corner but the keeper again did brilliantly to keep them out.
Stoke had been under some increased pressure throughout the second period but 20 minutes before the end they took the lead. A poor punch from the Pantilimon only reached the edge of the area were Muniesa dispossessed Adam Johnson, Sunderland appealed for a foul but Muniesa played on and smashed it in at the near post.
Mark Hughes’ team looked to kill off the tie and almost did with ten minutes to go, a brilliant ball from the flank found Marko Arnautovic but he couldn’t control his effort and his volley was well over. Substitute Victor Moses could have sealed the victory in extra time, the Chelsea loanee managed to get the better of skipper John O’Shea and looked to have done the same to Pantilimon but the keeper did enough to keep it out.
Sunderland were chasing the equaliser and had one final opportunity at the death, Ricky Alvarez curled a costless kick which deflected off the wall which found the head of Jones but it was easily caught by Butland.
It was a good, disciplined performance from Stoke especially from Butland who kept his side very much in the game early in the second half, Sunderland will be disappointed that they couldn’t duplicate their excellent cup run from last season but they can now focus on their league form which has been poor so far.
