week 29 - match report

Schalke stroll to 3-0 win in Mainz

"Today we set the milestone I was talking about before the game", said a delighted Mirko Slomka after a convincing 3-0 win at FSV Mainz 05. The Royal Blues had lost at the Bruchweg Stadium in the previous two seasons, but this time they consolidated their lead at the top of the table with an impressive performance.

Slomka included both Fabian Ernst and Lincoln in his starting line-up after their return from suspension, Levan Kobiashvili and Zlatan Bajramovic dropping to the bench. And after weathering an early storm the Royal Blues took the lead with their first chance of the game through Kevin Kuranyi in the tenth minute. "We waited a while because we knew Mainz had to come forward. But creating pressure costs a lot of energy, and we used that to our advantage", explained captain Marcelo Bordon.

"We were well prepared for Mainz. They were only able to put us under pressure at the beginning, when they closed us down early. This time we had the right answers, we played intelligently, combined well and operated with long balls at the right time", said Slomka. As was shown when his side doubled their lead before the break through Gerald Asamoah's 34th minute header.

With that the game was as good as over. The Royal Blues stifled the home side's attacking threat - and then killed the match off in clinical fashion after almost conceding a goal themselves. Noveski's powerful header from a 73rd minute corner was heading towards goal until it hit his strike partner Mohamed Zidan. "Most of the few chances that Mainz had resulted from set pieces", admitted Slomka. But rather than boot the ball clear, Kuranyi initiated a counterthrust that Lincoln finished off with an expert chip over the keeper. So instead of 2-1 to Schalke it was 3-0. The contest was over and the travelling Schalke fans had plenty of time in the final quarter of an hour to celebrate.

"We played some excellent, intelligent football today", summarised Bordon. Slomka took a similar line, saying: "We were very assured, clever and composed. Kevin Kuranyi was a key factor with his goal and two assists, but our defensive work was also worthy of praise. Marcelo Bordon, Mladen Krstajic and Manuel Neuer cut out every long ball."

Mainz coach Jürgen Klopp's assessment was understandably a sober one: "We simply didn't do enough today. I'm not so much bothered by the result, you can always lose against the league leaders. But I was disappointed by the way we lost. We exerted too little of the pressure that Mirko spoke about."

Mainz: Wache - Demirtas, Friedrich, Noveski, Rose - Gerber, Andreasen (Pekovic 79'), Azaouagh, Feulner (Vrancic 59') - Ruman (Jovanovic 46'), Zidan
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Hamit Altintop, Ernst - Lincoln  (Bajramovic 80') - Asamoah (Halil Altintop 59'), Kuranyi, Özil (Kobiashvili 67')
Goals: 0-1 Kuranyi (10'), 0-2 Asamoah (34'), 0-3 Lincoln (73')
Attendance: 20,300 (sold out)
Referee: Weiner (Giesen)
Yellow cards: Rose - Ernst