Million Manhoef tried, tried and eventually succeeded as Stoke City’s youngest ever league side won 1-0 at Plymouth Argyle.
Manhoef had been denied by keeper Conor Hazard through the afternoon, including a couple of one-on-ones, until the 83rd minute in front of the away end when he picked up a pass from Sol Sidibe wide on the right, cut inside and buried inside the near post.
This was a well-earned lead for a Stoke side which had been attacking with real vim for much of the first half and then stayed resilient and threatening on the break as hosts Plymouth came into the game.
Here are the player ratings from Home Park:
Johansson: A couple of important stops and quick off his line to deal with any loose ends. Definitely brave. 7.5
Tchamadeu: Can cause panic when he thunders down the line, including a dance into the box at start of second half. Needs to work on final ball. 7.5
Bocat: Some excellent control down the left and stuck to his guns against Whittaker, not helped by a poor referee. 7.5
Wilmot: Started as captain. Aggressive defending, leaping out to make interceptions and take responsibility. 7.5
Phillips: League debut. Very big and strong, literally carrying opponents on his back at one stage. 7.5
Burger: A big task at base of midfield and seemed to enjoy the role, steaming into challenges – until his booking – and spreading passes. 7.5
Moran: Some electric movement, linking play and looking to make killer contributions in dangerous areas. 7.5
Junho: A central role, pulling to the left at times. Some deft touches and slick passes and an audacious lifted shot over Hazard that span just wide of post. 7.5
Manhoef: So dangerous cutting in from the right and brilliant close control that just needed the finish adding until his excellent winning goal. 8.5
Koumas: Back out on the left and can beat defenders with pace or skill. Exciting to watch. 7.5
Mmaee: A big chance to lay down a marker at centre-forward. Dropped deep rather than try to break the line. 6.5
Plymouth did find space behind Stoke’s gang of attackers and twice in the opening stages Morgan Whittaker cut inside to test Viktor Johansson. But the big chances came at the other end in a sustained period of quick and incisive Stoke forward play. Manhoef showed sublime skill at times without being able to stick it in the net, including a one-on-one where he steamed in from deep. He might have trusted his right foot with the rebound too.
Burger had a shot blocked amid chaos at a corner and Moran couldn’t quite nick home from an acute angle after excellent link-up play between Koumas, Junho and Manhoef. Junho came close too with an audacious dink from the left corner of the box that span over Conor Hazard but just wide of the far post.
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