{"id":11792,"date":"2026-07-29T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/tz\/news\/?p=11792"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:52:19","slug":"stoke-edge-everton-1-0-in-competitive-pre-season-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/tz\/news\/stoke-edge-everton-1-0-in-competitive-pre-season-friendly\/","title":{"rendered":"Stoke Edge Everton 1-0 in Competitive Pre-Season Friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stoke City secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Premier League side Everton<\/strong> in an entertaining pre-season friendly, with George Kelly’s second-half strike<\/strong> proving to be the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both managers used the fixture to assess their squads, making wholesale changes after halftime, but it was Stoke who made the biggest impact. Kelly’s composed finish just before the hour mark rewarded an energetic display and gave the Championship side plenty of confidence heading into the new campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Half: Tight Contest with Few Clear Chances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The opening 45 minutes offered a balanced battle between two well-organized teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everton controlled spells of possession while Stoke remained disciplined defensively, preventing the Toffees from creating clear-cut opportunities. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested as both sides focused on maintaining shape and building match fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teams headed into halftime level at 0-0<\/strong>, with everything to play for after the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stoke
Photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Second Half: Kelly Makes the Difference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The match came alive immediately after halftime as both managers introduced almost entirely new lineups to give valuable minutes across their squads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decisive moment arrived in the 59th minute<\/strong> when George Kelly<\/strong> found space inside the box and calmly converted to give Stoke a deserved 1-0 lead<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everton responded with another wave of substitutions on the hour mark, introducing fresh legs, including Jake O’Brien, Carlos Alcaraz, Dwight McNeil and Thierno Barry, in an attempt to find an equalizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite increased pressure, Stoke defended resolutely and comfortably protected their slender advantage until the final whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managers Rotate Squads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As expected in a pre-season encounter, both clubs prioritized fitness and player evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stoke made wholesale halftime changes, allowing several young players and new faces to impress, while Everton followed with multiple substitutions around the 61st minute to assess different tactical combinations ahead of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extensive rotation ensured valuable minutes across both squads while maintaining the competitive intensity throughout the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stoke
Photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n