week 16 - match report

Westermann rescues point as Schalke draw 2-2 in Frankfurt

In a heated encounter in Frankfurt Heiko Westermann needed to score two equalisers after the home side had twice taken the lead through Faton Toski and Ioannis Amanatidis.  The match turned ugly four minutes from time when unused substitute Carlos Grossmüller was shown the red card after a scuffle on the pitch.

Head coach Mirko Slomka named an unchanged side after the 1-0 home win over VfL Bochum last week, fielding the same starting line-up for the third time in succession. As in Hannover, the Royal Blues set out to pressure the home side in a 4-4-2 formation, but they remained largely ineffective. "We never really got into the game", said a critical Slomka after the final whistle. "We didn't get near them. In the end we can count ourselves fortunate to be taking a point back to Gelsenkirchen."

The opening exchanges were punctuated by a string of fouls, which meant little passing play was possible. The first threat on goal did not come until the 17th minute, when Manuel Neuer scampered out of his goal to clear ahead of Ioannis Amanatidis. Moments later Halil Altintop found himself in a one-on-one with Markus Pröll. But like Neuer, the Eintracht keeper defused the danger with his foot. According to Slomka this opportunity, along with a similar clear-cut chance for Kevin Kuranyi in the 55th minute, when the Germany striker also found himself on his own in front of Pröll, was symptomatic for the whole season. "We're simply not making enough of these chances. We're going to have to work on it."

Overall the game was characterised by a plethora of challenges in midfield. Frankfurt, operating with just one striker (Amanatidis), registered two long-range efforts before the break through Amanatidis and Michael Fink, while Altintop had another opportunity for the Royal Blues. The hapless striker was eventually replaced at half-time, Gerald Asamoah coming on to partner Kuranyi up front. But it was Frankfurt's Faton Toski who struck first after the restart. The midfielder met an Amanatidis cross first time on the volley, and although Neuer got a touch to it, he was unable to stop it going over the line.

Schalke appeared unperturbed, however, and at last began to develop some pressure going forward. Kuranyi had two chances on 51 and 55, and Jermaine Jones headed over on 56. Frankfurt sat back, but remained dangerous on the break. And Benjamin Köhler had a great chance to make it 2-0 on 73, only to knock the ball wide with only Neuer to beat. Four minutes later Schalke grabbed a deserved equaliser when Heiko Westermann headed home Mesut Özil's free-kick.

Not content with the equaliser, the Royal Blues continued to press, but somewhat surprisingly it was Frankfurt who found the net in the 82nd minute, Amanatidis finishing off a quick counterthrust with a shot from just inside the area to restore the home side's advantage. Things then got out of hand. After Frankfurt had kicked the ball away several times as Schalke were shaping to take a free-kick, Fabian Ernst and Michael Thurk squared up to each other. A scuffle involving several players ensued, after which Ernst and Thurk were cautioned and substitute Carlos Grossmüller was sent off. "When we went 2-1 down I was convinced we were going to lose. Thankfully we recovered", said Slomka. Heiko Westermann made it 2-2 with a powerful left-foot shot from the edge of the box in the 89th minute.

Frankfurt: Pröll - Ochs, Galindo, Kyrgiakos, Spycher - Russ, Fink - Mahdavikia (Thurk 83'), Toski (Weissenberger 72'), Köhler - Amanatidis
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Westermann - Jones, Ernst - Rakitic (Lovenkrands 64'), Özil (Bajramovic 90' +2) - Altintop (Asamoah 46'), Kuranyi
Goals: 1-0 Toski (49'), 1-1 Westermann (77'), 2-1 Amanatidis (82'), 2-2 Westermann (89')
Referee: Fleischer (Sigmertshausen)
Attendance: 51,500 (sold out)
Red card: Grossmüller (87')
Yellow cards: Russ (2), Thurk (2), Mahdavikia - Kuranyi (4), Ernst (2), Bajramovic (3), Bordon (5/1)