Coach Thomas Schaaf made three changes in his starting line-up: Zambrano was out with a match ban and Anderson with a bad cold - Madlung and Stendera started - also Kittel replaced Inui. Russ played alongside Madlung in central defense. Ahead of kick-off the North West stand put on a magnificent fan display – a great start to the Saturday night top match.
EVEN START
It was an even start with either team not holding back. Schalke had a couple of counter attacks in the opening 15 minutes of the match, the Eagles came forward with neat moves and Kittel had a good first chance with a long range effort (11’). Kevin Trapp did well with a couple of saves against Höger (18’, 21’). At the other end Aigner broke through twice on the right and crossed the ball but neither Meier or Seferovic managed to get it on target.
Schalke was slightly on the up now, but it was an end-to-end encounter still. Oczipka hit a corner which was cleared with a header, Madlung volleyed the ball towards the goal and came close but was off target (34’). Schalke were tough to play against, really tight in defense and always a threat on the break. Once again Trapp was at the end of a S04 long range effort right before the half time whistle (44’). The score line remained 0-0.
LIVELY RE-START
Lucas Piazon replaced Sonny Kittel going into the second half. The Eagles came forward right away and Seferovic let loose from around 25 meters, his shot went inches off target (46’). Minutes later Piazon’s cross from inside the box was blocked by a Gelsenkirchen defender for a corner which was brought in by Stendera but picked up by keeper Wellenreuther. Then Hasebe was brought down in the S04 box but no penalty was given – a debatable decision (54’).
The match then calmed down to some extent for 10 minutes but came alive again in the sweetest possible way. Stendera did well to set up Chandler on the right, his sharp cross found Piazon who headed in – 1-0 SGE (65’)!! It was a deserved lead at this stage as the Eagles were the more active team after the break. The tides now turned slightly in that Schalke had to open up and SGE came forward on the break. Seferovic and Piazon came close to breaking through on goal but were stopped by defenders at the very last moment.
HEATED FINISH
Then Piazon set up Seferovic at who had a go from the edge of the box but his shot was deflected for a corner (81’). Also Meier broke through on the left and found Stendera inside the box, the Schalke defense managed to clear the ball though. Schalke had chance after corner but Trapp was at the end of the header (87’). Schaaf brought on Medojevic for Stendera (88’) for the final minutes and a little later also Flum for Seferovic (90’).
But the 1-0 score line stood after all, at last the Eagles bagged all three points after going six games without a win. And it was a great team effort against the Bundesliga third. Well done SGE! Coming up is the match away against Mainz 05 next Saturday.
