LIVE updates from the Crew Stadium as the Potters kick off their tour of the United States against MLS side Columbus Crew.
Columbus Crew 2 (Horton 71, Spears 86)
Stoke City 1 (Walters 22)
21:27: Jerome heads just over right on the stroke of full-time, before the referee brings an end to a lively encounter.
21:23: Goal for Crew, and this time, that probably is the winner. Reneria again causes problems down the right, picks out Ben Spears and he rifles the ball into the back of the ent, despite Sorensen managing to get a hand to the ball.
21:20: The lively Renteria whips another dangerous ball straight across the City 6-yard box, but again neither of the two Crew players in the danger zone are able to connect with the ball. That could, and maybe should, have been the winner.
21:16: A glorious opportunity for substitute Olman Vargas to send the crowd crazy as he is picked out inside the 6-yard box. Unfortunately foe he and the majority of the crowd in attendace though, he mistimes his effort and scoops it over the bar.
21:12: 8,796 is read out in the press box as the official turnout this evening. A little down on Columbus' seasonal average, but for a friendly encounter, I reckon that is quite decent.
21:07: Moments after Cameron Jerome surrenders an opportunity of doubling Stoke's advantage, Crew race down the other end and level matters in the 70th minute. Renteria does well on the byline and finds Aaron Horton 8-yards out, and he manages to stab the ball home.
21:04: A minor scuffle in the middle of the pitch as Whelan takes offence to a hard challenge from Emilio Renteria. It soon calms down though. It's lifted the atmosphere around the place though.
20:58: A huge moment for Mamady Sidibe, who makes his first appearance back in the first team since August 2010. He comes on for Marc Wilson, whilst Diego Arismendi replaces Ness.
20:54: Matthew Upson comes on at the expense of Robert Huth whilst Danny Higginbotham enters the fray to replace the skipper, Ryan Shawcross.
20:52: Two opportunities within a matter of minutes for Columbus; firstly, Schoenfeld glances wide from close range, before Horton rose highest inside the penalty box, but only to plant his header wide of Sorensen's post.
20:49: Four further changes for Stoke with Jones, Jerome, Tonge and Delap coming on for Crouch, Walters, Palacios and Shotton.
20:46: There are around 8,000 spectators here this evening. A decent turnout.
20:42: The players are back out and there have been three changes. Wilkinson, Sorensen and Whelan on, Etherington, Begovic and Whitehead off.
20:24: There goes the half-time whistle. It's Columbus 0 Stoke 1.
20:23: Another half chance for the hosts with a dangerous ball being fired into the danger zone. The Potters backline stand firm and clear the danger however.
20:18: Duka rattles the bar from 20-yards with a thumping effort which had Begovic beaten. Crew will feel aggrieved not to be on level terms here. I have been impressed by them.
20:13: Ness is looking very impressive on his debut and he again bursts forward with purpose, dinks the ball out right to Crouch, who fires over the bar from 10-yards.
20:07: More action at the other end of the field with Ness feeding a clever ball through to Etherington, he centres the ball towards the unmarked Walters, but he isn't able to make contact with the ball at the backpost. A neat interchange there.
20:06: Meram again goes close for Columbus after nipping through on goal, but he isn't able to hit the target from 8-yards.
20:02: GOAL!!! Jonathan Walters marks his first pre-season start with a well taken header after Ryan Shotton bursts down the right flank and delivers a pin-point delivery straight into the path of the Irish international.
19:59: Stoke born Chris Birchall forces Begovic into a superb save from 25-yards, before Duka rifles the rebound over the bar.
19:57: Another chance for Meram as Dilly Duka squares the ball to him inside the danger zone, but his touch lets him down and Begovic rushes out to block his goalbound effort.
19:52: A relatively quiet start to proceedings thus far, but just as I say that, Justin Meram spurns a glorious opportunity of putting the hosts ahead as he heads over from 6-yards with the goal at his mercy.
19:47: The first chance for Columbus with Birchall whipping across a dangerous centre, though thankfully for Stoke Justin Meram glances his header way wide of the target.
19:43: An early opportunity for the Potters as a misplaced kick from Andy Gruenebaum falls straight into the path of Peter Crouch, however, the England man isn't able to compose himself in time as a Crew defender nips in to clear the danger.
19:37: Slightly late kick-off, but we are now underway! Come on Stoke.
19:29: The players are on the field, and the national anthems of the United States and England are now being sang.
19:24: The midfield quartet consists of Matthew Etherington, Wilson Palacios, Dean Whitehead and Ryan Shotton, with Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch lining up in attack.
19:22: Jamie Ness makes his City debut in the left back spot, with the rest of the back five made up by Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shawcross, Matthew Upson and Marc Wilson.
19:20: The heat is certain to have some kind of affect on the players this evening, but Tony Pulis will be looking to ensure that his side come through the clash unscathed.
19:15: Good evening, or early morning back home, and thanks for joining us here on stokecityfc.com for live coverage of this evening's pre-season friendly here in a very humid Ohio.