Middlesboro 1 - 1 StokeMiddlesbrough denied win as Xherdan Shaqiri clinches point for Stoke City
Home team scorersAlvaro Negredo 11
Away team scorersXherdan Shaqiri 67
At one stage of this curtainraiser Middlesbrough looked like they had never left the Premier League, despite a seven-year hiatus. Yet while Álvaro Negredo had raised the Riverside roof early on with a debut goal, Boro were hanging on somewhat at the end of this game and a point ended up being a satisfactory start to their season.
Stoke City were well off the pace in the opening half, but Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick in the 67th minute ensured Mark Hughes’s side left Teesside with a point which, on reflection, will probably have satisfied both teams.
Aitor Karanka watched Middlesbrough play some sparkling football early on, with Gastón Ramírez particularly impressive, and there were plenty of encouraging signs for the Spaniard, with the exception of an injury to the new signing Marten de Roon.
Negredo showed predatory instinct to bundle in while Middlesbrough’s defence stood up to late pressure, something they may have to become accustomed to during their return to the top flight this year.
The Riverside was reverberating with optimism before kick-off, that fractured period in the spring of last season all but forgotten as a pristine pitch beckoned, while banners were unfurled and a plane flew overhead. This moment had been a long time in the waiting, and Middlesbrough’s supporters were going to enjoy it.
Yet while spirits were high, there was an air of uncertainty about how Karanka’s team would stand up to the challenge of an established Premier League side full of international quality. Middlesbrough had four new players in the starting lineup and, if there was any apprehension beforehand about a transitional, gelling period, they were soon allayed.
Boro came out of the blocks flying and were the superior side throughout a first half in which they scored one and hit the post twice. Ramírez was the standout performer, but how Negredo will be thankful for a goal 11 minutes into his career on Teeside.
If unity was the message in the stands before kick-off – one banner reading “the club that will not die” – Middlesbrough certainly displayed it early on. Ramírez had already headed a Stewart Downing corner over Shay Given’s crossbar before Negredo finished an excellent team move.
Albert Adomah was at its heart, retrieving the ball in midfield and building momentum down the left, drifting a high cross to the back post where Ramírez rose to nod across goal. Negredo, who scored nine goals in 30 league appearances for Manchester City during the 2013-14 season, was in the right place at the right time and bundled the ball in with his shoulder.
The only serious blow for Middlesbrough came in the 18th minute when their £12m summer signing from Atalanta, De Roon, was forced off with a hamstring injury, yet Adam Forshaw slotted into central midfield with ease and Stoke continued to struggle.
Victor Valdés, another debutant, was rarely called into action in the Middlesbrough goal and Karanka’s men could have been two up before half-time, Ramírez dropping his shoulder to beat Ryan Shawcross before hitting a left-footed shot on to the post, and hitting the woodwork again with a corner.
However, the pattern of the game did change. Stoke began to control the ball and Middlesbrough were content to play on the break, Odomah a dangerous outlet without finding a final product on more than one occasion.
Yet their lead was soon eradicated. Stoke had not crafted too many chances, other than a determined run from Marko Arnautovic that the Austrian sliced wide, but it was a piece of quality that brought them level.
Karanka was furious that Stoke were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Middlesbrough penalty area as the referee, Kevin Friend, had already played advantage, despite a trip by Adam Clayton. He brought things back, and Shaqiri curled a precise effort in off Valdés’ left-hand post, with the former Barcelona goalkeeper getting a faint touch.
Guardian
