Shaqiri strike pegs back Boro

Xherdan Shaqiri’s 67th minute free-kick denied Middlesbrough victory on their return to the Premier League as Stoke secured a 1-1 draw at the Riverside.

After a seven-year absence from the top flight, Aitor Karanka’s side made the perfect start with new signing Alvaro Negredo heading home from close range in the 11th minute.

The hosts went close to doubling their advantage just before the break when Gaston Ramirez’s shot rebounded off the post, but it was Stoke who hit back in the second half through Shaqiri.

The Switzerland international wrong-footed Victor Valdes with a superb free-kick in the 67th minute to peg Boro back and seal an opening day point for Mark Hughes’ side.

Karanka handed Premier League debuts to four of his summer signings with Valdes, Antonio Barragan and Marten De Roon joining Negredo in Middlesbrough’s starting line-up.

And it did not take long for one of new boys to make an impact with Negredo heading home after Ramirez nodded Albert Adomah’s cross back across goal.

It was not such good news for De Roon, who was replaced …

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