Only a cool night in Stoke, the team bearing the same name as the city scored two goals but only managed to draw 1-1 with Everton. Peter Crouch's own goal in the first half put Everton ahead but an excellent bit of solo work from Cameron Jerome in the second half pulled Stoke even.
Stoke City Vs. Everton, 2012 Premier League: Potters Score Twice But Only Manage Draw with Everton
The first half wasn’t compelling watching. Both teams did generate some chances but as usually happens in a match involving Stoke, attempts by the opponent to move the ball around and create are thwarted by heaping helpings of physicality. Fear not though, there was a goal!
Just when it looked like halftime would arrive scoreless, Everton broke through...well sort of. Tim Cahill was involved, mucking things up in the box, but it was definitely one of the ugliest own goals you'll never see. Defender Marc Wilson headed down a cross into the box and the ball bounced off Peter Crouch's back and past Asmir Begovic who had no chance of stopping it. Crouch stayed down after the goal but it was unclear if that was due to injury or embarrassment. Either way, the Toffees led 1-0 at the break.
Stoke looked more lively on the attack in the second half, but it wasn't until Tony Pulis unleashed a "Cerebrus-like" triple substitution that things turned around. 90 seconds have coming on, Cameron Jerome made a solo run from midfield, turning two Everton defenders in circles and beating Tim Howard with a lovely shot. It was an excellent run from Jerome, combined with a bit of luck and some poor defending.
Despite some dangerous moments in the final minutes, mostly from Stoke, neither side could break the tie and the match finished with a 1-1 draw.
Fun fact: Crouch’s own goal was the 1,000th goal scored in the Premier League and what a goal it was! Something tells me they’ll let this particular milestone fade quietly into history.
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