Middlesbrough in drop zone as Stoke wins 2-0
STOKE, England (AP) - Marko Arnautovic scored two first-half goals Saturday to lead Stoke to a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, which plunged into the Premier League relegation zone.
The Austria midfielder brought down a long pass from Glenn Whelan in the 29th, rounded goalkeeper Victor Valdes and smashed into the unprotected net for his fifth of the season.
Stoke doubled its lead in the 42nd in a move like the Stoke of old. A lofted corner was headed down by Peter Crouch and Arnautovic reacted first inside the six-yard box to swivel and score through a bunch of Middlesbrough defenders.
Stoke City's Marko Arnautovic scores his side's first goal of the game during their English Premier League soccer match against Middlesbrough at the bet365 Stadium, Stoke, England, Saturday, March 4, 2017. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Midtable Stoke rebounded impressively from its 4-0 loss at Tottenham last weekend.
Middlesbrough is three points from safety.
