week 19 - match report

Schalke come from behind to beat Aachen 2-1

Head coach Mirko Slomka presented a matter-of-fact analysis of the game after the narrow 2-1 win over Alemannia Aachen on Wednesday evening. "Aachen put in a very good performance", he said in praise of the side promoted from the second division last season. "But thanks to the commitment showed by my players the narrow victory can be considered a fair one."

After taking a while to get started the Royal Blues had just found their rhythm and missed their first big chance through Varela when Ibisevic gave the visitors the lead with their first opportunity in the 17th minute. "After going behind our play was erratic. We were too impatient and tried to do too much too quickly, and so our passing was not up to the usual standard", said Slomka, not at all happy with this phase of the game, even though Rafinha had levelled the scores from the spot on 23 after the ball had been handled in the area.

The equaliser did not set Schalke on the road to victory, however, and this was down to the visitors. "Aachen played very intelligently. They denied us time and space, and we had to adjust to that", admitted Fabian Ernst. But although a lot of their attacks faded into nothing, the Royal Blues demonstrated the necessary will to win the game. "In the last 20 minutes we were much the busier side and did more to score than our opponents", claimed Slomka realistically. When it came, the goal was typical of the evening. Kevin Kuranyi attempted to force the winner with a speculative first-time effort from Bordon's cross - only to slice his shot across the face of the goal, where it struck the hapless Moses Sichone and deflected into the net. It was the first time Slomka's men had come from behind to win this season, and they can now look forward to a genuine top-of-the-table clash at Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Rodriguez (Bajramovic 46') - Varela (Halil Altintop 62'), Ernst, Kobiashvili - Lincoln (Hamit Altintop 77') - Kuranyi, Lovenkrands
Aachen: Straub - Pinto, Sichone, Klitzpera, Leiwakabessy - Lehmann - Reghecampf, Rösler (Dum 61'), Fiel (Quotschalla 79') - Ebbers, Ibisevic
Goals: 0-1 Ibisevic (17'), 1-1 Rafinha (pen. 23'), 2-1 Sichone (o.g. 74')
Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)
Referee: Meyer (Burgdorf)
Yellow cards: Rafinha (5) - Rösler (3)