Tempers Flare After Hull City’s Last-Gasp Win Over Stoke City
Drama erupted after the final whistle in Saturday’s Championship clash as Hull City secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Stoke City.
Joe Gelhardt scored the decisive late goal for the Tigers, prompting jubilant celebrations from the away side in front of the home supporters.
The celebrations quickly escalated into confrontation, with players from both teams clashing amid the incensed Stoke crowd.
According to The Stoke Sentinel, Mohamed Belloumi aggravated tensions by performing a celebratory dance in front of the home fans, which provoked a furious reaction from Stoke defender Ashley Phillips.
Additional Hull players then rushed toward the altercation, and referee Lee Doughty issued yellow cards after the match had ended.
Gelhardt’s winner lifted Hull City into fifth place, just two points behind second-placed Stoke, but the post-match chaos overshadowed the result.
Stoke manager Mark Robins expressed his frustration over the incident, saying:
“One of their players celebrated and incited the fans. Everyone got involved, which they shouldn’t have.”
The incident highlights the fine line between passionate celebrations and conflict, leaving both clubs to reflect on discipline after an intense match.
Gelhardt’s Late Strike Seals Dramatic Hull Win at Stoke
Joe Gelhardt continued his red-hot form for Hull City, scoring a 90th-minute winner at Stoke to extend the Tigers’ impressive run.
Stoke dominated the first half, deservedly taking the lead through Sorba Thomas’ superb volley. However, Hull turned the game around after the interval, with Semi Ajayi heading the visitors level shortly after half-time, setting the stage for Gelhardt’s late heroics. The on-loan Leeds forward netted his seventh goal in nine games—and his ninth overall for Hull—boosting the club’s play-off hopes.
Tempers flared after the final whistle, with a small brawl breaking out and objects thrown onto the pitch by home fans before order was restored. Hull’s John Lundstram and Kyle Joseph, along with Stoke’s Ashley Phillips, were booked for their involvement.
Despite Hull’s struggles in the opening half, they could have had an early penalty when Phillips brought down Matt Crooks in the box. Stoke capitalised on the reprieve, and Thomas curled in a sublime right-footed strike in the 17th minute to give the hosts the lead. Ajayi’s header from Aaron Cresswell’s corner fell perfectly to Thomas, who executed a precise volley to finish.
Stoke, who started the day in second place in the Championship, came close to extending their advantage, with Pandur making a full-stretch save from Bae Jun-Ho and Robert Bozenik seeing a header ruled out for offside.
Hull’s turnaround began immediately after the break, sparked by half-time substitutions from boss Sergej Jakirovic. Substitute Mohamed Belloumi’s flick-on from Gelhardt’s shot created space for Ajayi to head in his first goal for the club.
Hull finished the stronger side, with Lundstram missing a volley before the decisive moment arrived. Stoke’s turnover in their own half allowed Belloumi to drive forward and feed Gelhardt, who smashed a left-footed finish past Viktor Johansson to seal victory in dramatic fashion.
Speaking after the game, Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:
“I’m very satisfied, especially with the second half. The first half wasn’t good—we were outplayed—but the team showed it can change things. The half-time substitutions sparked our reaction. We ran, fought for every ball, equalised early, and that gave us energy and confidence. In the end, we stole the goal with a great counter-attack, and Joffy [Gelhardt] scored. I’m very happy—it was an important win.”
Leave a Reply