week 10 - match report

Schalke battle to dramatic 3-3 draw with HSV

Though they were aware that in Hamburg SV the best attack in the league would be on view at the VELTINS Arena, the best defence in the league could not have expected to be two goals down at half-time. But thanks to a second-half whirlwind Schalke sent the visitors home with just a point.

"It was a great game for everyone involved", said Felix Magath after 93 tumultuous minutes. But it was also a nerve-jangling affair from a Schalke point of view.

As Hamburg had been in Europa League action at Celtic on Thursday evening, Magath opted to play three strikers in Halil Altintop, Jefferson Farfan and Kevin Kuranyi in a bid to exploit any tiredness in the visitors' legs. And the Royal Blues began with a flourish, repeatedly testing the fitness of the Hamburg rearguard in a spell in which they should have converted at least one chance to take the lead.
 
So it came as quite a surprise when the opening goal came at the other end. Marcus Berg's 26th minute strike saw Schalke's attacking game fall apart and left them hoping for the break and an opportunity to regroup. But on the stroke of half-time HSV struck again, Piotr Trochowski rifling home a stunning free-kick to seemingly put an end to any Schalke dreams of salvaging a point. "We made mistakes in our own half that could have been avoided", opined Magath. "If we'd shown more determination in the tackle we wouldn't have conceded those goals."

The pattern seemed to continue after the restart. Hamburg piled on the pressure, forcing the Schalke defence into two desperate clearances early on. But this time it was the home side who conjured up a goal out of nothing. Kevin Kuranyi's 50th minute header not only kick-started the Royal Blues, it also cranked up the volume inside the VELTINS Arena.

Driven on by the fans, the Royal Blues laid siege to the Hamburg goal. And with 61 minutes gone Kuranyi was brought down by last man David Rozehnal just outside the area, leaving referee Manuel Gräfe no choice but to wave a red card. As well as reducing the visitors to ten men the decision also presented Marcelo Bordon with an excellent opportunity from the resulting free-kick. HSV keeper Frank Rost got a hand to the Brazilian's piledriver, only for Lukas Schmitz to head home the rebound amid scenes of wild jubilation. The 21-year-old's first goal in a Schalke shirt came just two days after signing a new contract.

With Hamburg a man short three points now looked a distinct possibility, but the Royal Blues were left rocking on their heels ten minutes from time when Berg finished off a deadly counterattack to restore his side's lead. Felix Magath's men again refused to surrender, however, and they got their reward when Kuranyi headed a late equaliser in the 90th minute.
 
The Schalke boss may have called it a great game, but he was still disappointed with the result. "We fought back and created more chances, but Hamburg were the wiser, more mature team", he said. "So we have to be satisfied with the point."

Bruno Labbadia was also unhappy at having to settle for a draw. "We showed fantastic morale, but after going two up we neglected to add a third or even a fourth", he said. "And because Schalke have the quality to create chances with high balls it wasn't enough in the end."

The result leaves Hamburg in second place in the table, while the Royal Blues drop from third to fourth behind Werder Bremen.
 
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Zambrano, Bordon, Westermann - Mineiro (Rakitic 46') - Moritz, Schmitz (Kenya 77') - Altintop (Asamoah 82') - Farfan, Kuranyi
Hamburg: Rost - Demel, Rozehnal, Mathijsen, Aogo - Jarolim (Tavares 71'), Ze Roberto - Trochowski (90'+4 Tesche), Elia - Pitroipa (Boateng 64'), Berg
Goals: 0-1 Berg (26'), 0-2 Trochowski (45'), 1-2 Kuranyi (50'), 2-2 Schmitz (62'), 2-3 Berg (80'), 3-3 Kuranyi (90')
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)
Attendance: 61,673 (sold out)
Red card: Rozehnal (61'/last-man foul)
Yellow cards: Bordon (2), Zambrano (4) - Mathijsen (2), Elia, Jarolim