Stoke sail past Maccabi to pull clear

Stoke City FC scored three first-half goals against Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC to equal their biggest margin of victory in UEFA competition and extend their advantage at the top of UEFA Europa League Group E.

Kenwyne Jones, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton scored inside 32 minutes before the hosts' momentum was halted by the dismissal of Jerome just before half-time. They nevertheless remained comfortable, with Maccabi also reduced to ten men when Yoav Ziv was sent off on 55 minutes.

Buoyed by their home defeat of Beşiktaş JK last time out, Stoke attacked their opponents from the start and came close to taking an early lead through Jerome only for the forward's header to come back off the crossbar.

The Potters did not have to wait long for the opening goal as on 12 minutes Jones met Dean Whitehead's corner with a trademark downward header. Jerome then rose highest to meet Matthew Etherington's free-kick from the right and double Stoke's lead.

Jerome was involved again on 32 minutes, latching onto a headed clearance before rounding Guy Haimov and laying it off for Shotton, who tucked the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Jones' dismissal, though, ensured Stoke did not have it all their own way. The visitors dominated possession after the break but were depleted themselves when Ziv received a straight red card.

Jones almost extended Stoke's lead on the hour but his header from Shotton's cross drifted narrowly wide of the left post. The 27-year-old came close again with eight minutes remaining, timing his run perfectly to meet Wilson Palacios's pass but shooting straight at Haimov. Maccabi will seek revenge when the two sides meet in Tel-Aviv on 3 November.