Stoke Shock Dynamo with Draw in Kiev.

Cameron Jerome’s first ever goal for Stoke was almost enough to steal an away win in Kiev in their first Europa League group game, but a late strike in injury time left the Potters with just a point on their travels.

Jerome’s strike came just before the hour mark broke the deadlock against the run of play, the former Birmingham City striker was able to control Shotton’s low cross before firing into the roof of the Kiev net. 

But deep into stoppage time the Ukrainians equalized through Ognjen Vukojevic, breaking Potters hearts that had, until then, been dreaming of a impressive win in the Ukrainian capital.

Tony Pulis made eight changes to the side that beat Liverpool last Saturday. Among the changes were starting debuts for Wilson Palacios, who joined Glenn Whelan and co in the Stoke midfield, while Jerome partnered Kenwyne Jones up front. 

Despite the freshness of the Stoke side it was Kiev who had the upper hand in the opening quarter of the game. Andriy Shevchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko caused problems for the Potters at the back, while the Ukrainians’ defensive lines held firm in the center and middle of the park. 

Kiev left-back Goran Popov almost crashed in a drive from distance after 20 minutes but Thomas Sorensen was able to direct the ball away from goal before Yarmolenko squandered the easy rebound, keeping the Potters on level terms. 

Stoke responded after the chance and began to play with more structure in defence forcing Kiev to back-up, restricting them to long range efforts clearing Dynamo from the edge of the Stoke penalty box.

Kiev maintained possession and created chances, the best of which fell to Artem Milevsky but his strike, after Danilo Silva’s low cross, was straight at Sorensen and again failed to really challenge the Potters’ keeper.

Once they’d gone behind Kiev found a wall of Potters defenders every time they came forward and the home side found it difficult to create chances inside 25 yards. 

Substitute Olexander Aliyev made an impact coming on for Milos Ninkovic, first forcing full stretch save from Sorensen with a long range effort, and then striking the cross bar form 20 yards out to the relief of the Stoke defence.

Andriy Shevchenko wasted an opportunity when he chose to pass rather then test Stoke’s keeper as he bore down on goal but signs that Kiev would break down the Stoke defenses were beginning to show.

Late in stoppage time Ognjen Vukojevic popped up, latching onto Yarmolenko’s low cross to give Dynamo a deserved equalizer. 

Stoke weathered a last storm from Kiev as they went in search of a winner, but a late Aliyev freekick failed to break the wall, as the Potters went home with a point from Eastern Europe.