STOKE CITY 2-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
By Our Sports Correspondent at the bet365 Stadium
JESURUN RAK-SAKYI and Lamine Cisse were the stars of the show on Good Friday as Stoke City dazzled under the lights to brush aside a struggling Sheffield Wednesday.
In a performance defined by pace and flair, Mark Robins’ side proved far too hot for the relegated Owls to handle. The “Star” of the afternoon was undoubtedly Sorba Thomas, whose delivery from the flanks was of Premier League pedigree, providing the ammunition for a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Rak-Sakyi Rises
The breakthrough came after a period of relentless pressure orchestrated by the creative spark of Million Manhoef and Rak-Sakyi. Just before the interval, a lightning-fast counter-attack saw Thomas whip a trademark “postage stamp” cross to the back post. Rak-Sakyi, showing the composure that has made him a fan favorite, guided a clinical left-footed finish past Pierce Charles to ignite the home crowd.
Cisse Seals It
The Potters didn’t let up after the break. While veteran skipper Steven Nzonzi dominated the engine room with a vintage display of passing, it was the youthful exuberance of the front line that kept Wednesday on the ropes.
The points were safely wrapped up in the 57th minute. Eric-Junior Bocat, a constant threat from wing-back, saw his thumping header only parried by Charles into the path of Lamine Cisse. The young forward made no mistake, tapping home from close range to double the advantage.
Wednesday’s Woe
For Sheffield Wednesday, it was another long afternoon in a season to forget. Despite the best efforts of Charlie McNeill, who saw a sharp header brilliantly saved by Stoke’s Gavin Bazunu, the Owls lacked the star power to truly threaten a disciplined Potters backline led by the impressive Bosun Lawal.
As the final whistle blew, the “Star” ratings were clear: Stoke are a team looking up, while Wednesday are left to pick up the pieces of their 30th defeat of a dismal campaign.
THE SUN RATINGS
STOKE: Bazunu 7, Lawal 8, Phillips 7, Cresswell 7, THOMAS 9 (Star Man), Nzonzi 8, Seko 7, Bocat 8, Rak-Sakyi 8, Manhoef 8, Cisse 8.
SHEFF WED: Charles 7, Iorfa 6, Otegbayo 5, Palmer 6, Fusire 5, Thornton 5, Heskey 6, Lowe 5, Ingelsson 6, McNeill 6, Yates 5.
Emmanuel Ukudolo
Editor
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