week 5 - match report
Farfan and Kobiashvili fire Royal Blues to victory
FC Schalke 04 bagged their second away win in three outings with a 2-1 defeat of bottom side FC Cologne on Sunday. Jefferson Farfan (2') and Levan Kobiashvili (46') got the goals for the Royal Blues in front of a sell-out 50,000 crowd. Lukas Podolski (6') was on target for the home side.
"The game was obviously shaped by the fact that we scored very early on in both halves. After conceding the equaliser so soon in the first half we lacked the necessary assurance. And after we went back in front we knew Cologne would put us under pressure. But obviously I'm delighted to come away with the win", said Felix Magath after the final whistle.
The Schalke boss made four changes to the side that lost to SC Freiburg last time out. Vasileios Pliatsikas came into the starting eleven for Mineiro, who underwent knee surgery during the week. Levan Kobiashvili, Levan Kenia and Gerald Asamoah also started in place of Ivan Rakitic, Rafinha and Kevin Kuranyi, who was not fully fit after coming down with a cold. Magath also made a tactical change, sending his team out in a 3-4-3 formation. The two wide players tracked back whenever Cologne were in possession and joined in the attack when the Royal Blues had the ball.
"We practised this system in training during the week and I was very satisfied with the way the team defended", Magath explained. The Royal Blues made a lightning-quick start to the game, taking the lead after just 84 seconds when Gerald Asamoah headed Levan Kenia's corner back across goal for Jefferson Farfan to nod home from close range. Schalke's joy was to prove short-lived, however. Just four minutes later Fabrice Ehret forced his way down the left-hand side before cutting inside and threading the ball through to Lukas Podolski, who left Manuel Neuer no chance with a shot from twelve metres.
It had been a furious start to the game and it continued to be played at a high tempo. Both teams went about their business with plenty of commitment and passion, but were guilty of some poor passing in the first half. Neither side was able to get a grip in midfield, and so chances remained a rarity. Christoph Moritz had one long-range effort for Schalke, while Pedro Geromel headed wide for the home side.
The beginning of the second half was a carbon copy of the first. But this time the Royal Blues took just 57 seconds to get on the scoresheet. Gerald Asamoah, Benedikt Höwedes and Jefferson Farfan combined neatly to set up Levan Kobiashvili, who curled a shot with the outside of his left foot into the bottom right-hand corner to restore Schalke's lead. Then, two minutes later, Marcelo Bordon cleared a Lukas Podolski effort off the line to ensure there was no repeat of what happened the first half.
The Royal Blues now began to show more authority. Their attacking play had a more purposeful look about it and Cologne were unable to get a sight of goal. In the 58th minute there was a big talking point when Jefferson Farfan was brought down in the box by Petit. But referee Dr Drees waved away Schalke's claims for a penalty and awarded a goal kick instead. Levan Kenia and Kevin Kuranyi, on as a substitute for the Georgian, missed Schalke's best chances in the 58th and 68th minutes respectively, while Lukas Podolski, on 63, and Maniche were unable to capitalise for the home side.
Both teams continued to play at pace throughout the second half and gave no quarter in a physical encounter. Schalke were well organised at the back and kept things tight in midfield, and so Cologne found it difficult to find any rhythm. In the closing stages the home side stepped up the pressure and created two decent opportunities for substitute Manasseh Ishiaku on 84 and Milivoje Novakovic 60 seconds later, but neither was able to find a way past Manuel Neuer. And in stoppage time the Cologne skipper was denied again by the Schalke custodian. "We defended very well but didn't do enough going forward to relieve the pressure. But all in all I'm obviously delighted with the three points", concluded Magath.
Cologne: Mondragon - Schorch, Geromel, Mohamad, Brecko (Ishiaku 75') - Maniche, Petit, Chihi (Freis 75'), Ehret - Podolski, Novakovic
Schalke: Neuer - Zambrano, Westermann, Bordon, - Höwedes, Moritz, Pliatsikas, Kobiashvili - Farfan (Moravek 90'), Asamoah (Holtby 78'), Kenya (Kuranyi 67')
Goals: 0-1 Farfan (2'), 1-1 Podolski (6'), 1-2 Kobiashvili (46')
Yellow cards: Petit, Novakovic - Neuer, Zambrano
Attendance: 50,000 (sold out)
Referee: Dr Drees (Münster)
