Two goals that weren’t even supposed to be shots. That’s how Stoke City broke open a tight Championship contest against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night — and it was all thanks to Sorba Thomas. The Welsh winger, normally known for his pace and pinpoint crosses, turned two attempted passes into a pair of stunning goals inside the first 34 minutes at the bet365 Stadium. The final score? 3-0. The implications? Huge. Stoke moved back into the automatic promotion zone, while Charlton’s playoff hopes took another hit.
Unlikely Goals, Unforgettable Night
It began in the third minute. Thomas, cutting in from the left flank, whipped a low cross toward the near post — only for it to take a cruel deflection off Charlton’s Thomas Kaminski and zip past him into the top corner. No one in the stadium, including Thomas, expected that. Then, just before halftime, he did it again. Another left-footed cross, this time curling toward the far post. Kaminski, perhaps overcommitting, fumbled the catch. The ball slipped under his body like a greased pig. In. 2-0. Sky Sports called it "luckless" — but Thomas, ever the opportunist, didn’t look lucky. He looked lethal.
Before the home crowd could catch their breath, Million Manhoef made it 3-0 in the fifth minute. A quick one-two with Jun-Ho opened space, and the Dutch striker buried a left-footed rocket into the bottom right. No luck there. Just pure precision.
Stoke’s Defense Holds Firm
Stoke’s seventh clean sheet of the season wasn’t just about Thomas’ magic. It was about structure. Mark Robins’ side sat deep, compressed the middle, and forced Charlton into low-percentage efforts. Luke Berry, making his first start of the season, had two decent chances — one a volley off a cross, another a late header — but Viktor Johansson, Stoke’s Swedish keeper, was calm under pressure. He didn’t make spectacular saves; he made smart ones. And in the Championship, that’s often more valuable.
Charlton’s attack? Lifeless. Only one shot on target all night. Nathan Jones’s side has now scored just six goals in their last seven matches. They’re stuck in 12th, four points off the playoff spots, and the frustration is mounting. After the final whistle, Jones was seen talking to his forwards on the sideline — not in anger, but in quiet disbelief. "We’re not creating enough," he told reporters. "We’re asking players to do too much with too little."
The Promotion Race Heats Up
With the win, Stoke climbed to second place in the Championship with 30 points — tied with Middlesbrough but ahead on goal difference. They’re now just 10 points behind leaders Coventry City, who’ve been the surprise team of the season. But here’s the twist: the top six are separated by only six points. Four teams — Stoke, Middlesbrough, Hull City, and Millwall — are within striking distance of automatic promotion. And behind them? Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town, all freshly relegated from the Premier League, are fighting tooth and nail to get back up. This isn’t just a league anymore. It’s a war.
Stoke’s form has turned around dramatically. After losing three of four matches in October, they’ve now gone unbeaten in five (W3, D2). Robins credits the defensive solidity. "We’ve been too open in the past," he said. "Tonight, we were compact. We didn’t give them anything. That’s how you win games like this."
What’s Next for Both Sides?
Stoke face Birmingham City at home next Tuesday — a clash that could define their promotion credentials. Birmingham, sitting at 24 points, are hungry for a top-six finish. Meanwhile, Charlton travel to Wrexham, a team just one point behind them. A loss there could drop them into the relegation zone. Their last four matches include trips to Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday — two teams with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
As for Thomas? He’s now scored five goals this season — three of them from crosses. No one saw this coming. Not even him. "I just wanted to get it on target," he joked after the match. "I didn’t think it was going in. But hey — if it goes in, it counts."
Behind the Numbers
- Stoke City: 9 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses — 30 points, +13 goal difference
- Charlton Athletic: 6 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses — 23 points, -3 goal difference
- Coventry City: 12 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss — 40 points, +30 goal difference
- Stoke’s 7 clean sheets this season are the second-highest in the Championship
- Charlton have scored 1 goal in their last 3 away matches
- Thomas has now scored 3 goals from crosses this season — more than any other player in the division
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Sorba Thomas’ goals happen, and why were they so unusual?
Both of Sorba Thomas’ goals came from crosses that were never intended as shots. The first deflected off goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski’s hand into the top corner; the second slipped under him after a low, inswinging delivery. These aren’t typical goal-scoring plays — most wingers aim to find teammates, not score themselves. Thomas’ ability to anticipate rebounds and misdirections, combined with Kaminski’s rare misjudgment, turned two defensive errors into a double. Only one other player in the Championship this season has scored multiple goals from crosses.
Why is Stoke City’s clean sheet record so important for promotion?
In the Championship, tight games dominate. Teams that win 1-0 or 2-0 consistently climb the table faster than high-scoring but leaky sides. Stoke’s seven clean sheets are the second-best in the league, and their defense has conceded just 11 goals in 17 games — a remarkable stat for a team that often plays with a high line. This defensive discipline, combined with opportunistic goals, mirrors the profile of last season’s promoted teams: Sheffield United and Burnley. Stoke are building the same foundation.
What’s the biggest challenge facing Charlton Athletic right now?
Charlton’s problem isn’t defense — they’ve conceded only 19 goals, the same as top-half teams. It’s scoring. They’ve netted just 23 goals in 17 matches, with only six goals in their last seven games. Their top scorer, Sonny Carey, has just three league goals. Without a reliable goal threat, they’re stuck in the middle of the table, unable to break through against organized defenses. Manager Nathan Jones needs to find a striker or overhaul the attacking structure before January.
How does this result impact the promotion race?
Stoke’s win puts them firmly in the automatic promotion picture — currently second, just behind Coventry City. With Middlesbrough tied on points, every game now matters. A loss to Birmingham next week could see them slip to third, but a win could stretch the gap to four points. Meanwhile, Charlton’s loss means they’re now five points behind 10th-placed Wigan, and with four of their next five matches against teams above them, they’re running out of time. The gap between 6th and 12th is just four points — so even a single win could change everything.
Are there any injury concerns for Stoke City ahead of their next match?
Stoke’s defense appears intact, but Robert Boženík, who came close to scoring a fourth goal, has been struggling with a minor hamstring issue since late October. He’s expected to be monitored ahead of the Birmingham game. Meanwhile, midfielder Seko Fofana missed the match due to a knock and could be out for another week. If Fofana doesn’t return, Mark Robins may turn to 19-year-old academy product Kian O’Donnell as a replacement — a risky but potentially rewarding move.
How unusual is it for a winger to score two goals from crosses in one match?
Extremely rare. Since the 2020-21 season, only two players in the Championship have scored two goals from crosses in a single match — and neither did it in the first half. Thomas is the first to do so since 2022. His ability to deliver low, driven crosses that hug the ground has become a signature trait. Most wingers aim for height and pace; Thomas uses timing and placement. It’s not luck — it’s a skill most coaches don’t train for. He’s becoming a one-man tactical anomaly.