Match Report: Everton 0 – 0 Stoke (Everton win 5-4 on penalties)

Everton required a penalty shootout to see them into the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore.

Captain Phil Jagielka stepped up to score the winning penalty as the Blues converted all of their spot kicks, with youngster Marco van Ginkel missing the decisive one for the Potters.

It was the Blues who looked the most likely throughout the game and arguably, the result in the shootout was a fair reflection of the game.

Indeed, it was Kevin Mirallas who would have the first chance of the game, as he fired straight at the Stoke keeper inside the first minute. It would be Stoke with the first proper chance though, as Odemwingie poked past the post after arriving between two defenders.

The next chance would come to Marko Arnautovic, as he made the most of a mistake from Tony Hibbert to go one on one with Tim Howard, only for Phil Jagielka to race back and deny him with an excellent last ditch challenge.

Despite Stoke having the better of the chances in the first half, it was Romelu Lukaku who would put the ball in the back of the net first as Steven Pienaar played him in and the Belgian rounded the keeper' to score, only to discover he was offside.

Straight from the kick-off and Everton were challenging the keeper' again, as Steven Naismith found himself free and was denied by a fine save while at the other end Stephen Ireland was denied by Tim Howard.

Gerard Deulofeu was the one looking the most likely for Everton as he broke clear on several occasions, with him setting up Naismith again only for the Scot to be denied for a second time, while Tom Cleverley also came close to reaching a ball late on.

As penalties loomed, Lukaku would have the best chance of the game as Stoke gave him the ball and he raced clear, with a goal looking a certain. Instead he managed to fire wide and the shootout was needed to decide it.

And it would be the Blues who would prove the cooler, as they converted all of their spotkicks to head to the final against either Arsenal or a Singapore XI. Another pre-season win though, and Everton have made a strong start to their season preparations.