Kenywnne Jones' swiss Rollover
Posted Friday, August 26, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk
Above: Kenywnne Jones congratulated by his Stoke team-mates after scoring
KENWYNE JONES scored twice as Stoke strolled into the Europa League’s group stages.
With the Potters holding a slim 1-0 first leg advantage over their Swiss opponents, the tie was very much in the balance at kick-off.
But a three-goal blitz in 13 first-half minutes ensured a safe and comfortable passage for Tony Pulis’s men.
Matthew Upson proved an instant hit with the fans as he netted to set Stoke on their way.
The big defender celebrated his home debut with a 25th minute goal – his first since scoring in England’s 4-1 World Cup defeat by Germany in South Africa over a year ago – when he met Jermaine Pennant’s corner with a towering header.
The 46-strong travelling Thun Army then saw their team, who had started strongly, fall apart.
Just five minutes later Jones dropped on to a cross from Pennant and headed home from six yards.
Keeper Dragan Djukic really should have stopped it – but he had no chance in the 38th minute when Glenn Whelan cashed in after the ball ricocheted out to him as he lurked on the edge of the box.
The midfielder had no choice but to take the ball as it fell to him and he made no mistake, lashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
The visitors started as strongly in the second half as they had in the first but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was rarely called into action.
Andy Wilkinson did his level best to put the tie to bed but he shot into the side netting after a surging run.
But Jones made no mistake as he headed his second in the 72nd minute following substitute Tom Soares’s nippy run and chip.
Andreas Wittwer’s 77th-minute strike from six yards was scant consolation for the Swiss.
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