week 27 - match report
Altintop heads Schalke second
The Bundesliga table makes pleasant reading for Schalke fans at the moment. A 1-0 home win over Hansa Rostock saw the Royal Blues climb back into second place. "Our aim was to take advantage of any slip-ups by our rivals", said coach Mirko Slomka after the final whistle. Halil Altintop's winner ensured they did just that.
The Schalke starting line-up included a number of changes to the side that faced Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, with Heiko Westermann filling in at right-back in place of the injured Rafinha and Christian Pander switching to the left of the back four. In the attacking department there were three changes. Albert Streit, making his first start in Schalke colours, and Vicente Sanchez operated in the wide midfield positions in place of Gerald Asamoah and Leven Kobiashvili, while Soren Larsen came in for Kevin Kuranyi up front.
"We wanted good dribblers such as Sanchez and Streit on the flanks in order to break down Rostock's packed defence", said Slomka, explaining a tactical ploy that came off only partially in the first half. "We put in some good crosses and our passing play was good, but our finishing was substandard", the Schalke boss continued. "With our crosses we tended to look for the header instead of the ball in behind the defenders, which was an option on occasions." As it was, Halil Altintop struck the most dangerous shots on the visitors' goal (17'/40').
"I expected a reaction after our game against Wolfsburg. And that was what I got because we battled tremendously hard", said Rostock coach Frank Pagelsdorf. "Nevertheless, our play lacked cohesion in the first half." Pagelsdorf was not happy with a decision by referee Knut Kircher in the 41st minute, however, when Jermaine Jones fouled Amir Shapourzadeh. Was it the denial of a goalscoring opportunity or not, that was the question. Kircher said no, Pagelsdorf saw it differently: "It's a shame the referee lacked the courage to show the red card. If it had been the other way round, I'm sure it would have been a red."
Schalke had other things on their mind, however. "We told the players to be patient and wait for their chance", said Slomka, revealing the strategy for the second 45. "And they did a good job." They didn't have to wait long, it has to be said. Three minutes after Westermann had been denied a penalty on being sandwiched by Gledson and Kai Bülow, Altintop headed Streit's pinpoint cross into the back of the net (52').
Yet the Royal Blues were unable to kill the game off. Substitute Kevin Kuranyi had three great opportunities to do just that, but was thwarted by Rostock goalkeeper Stefan Wächter each time. "He made the chances for himself, but the keeper was outstanding from at least two of them", said Slomka. In fairness, Rostock also came very close to equalising with 20 minutes left. But Manuel Neuer was brilliant in saving Gledson's header, and Streit cleared Menga's effort off the line from the rebound.
"Towards the end you always worry something might happen", admitted Slomka, "but our defensive players were flawless today. My compliments go to the back four and our two holding midfielders." Pagelsdorf summed up as follows: "My players continued to give their all even when we went behind, but in the end it wasn't enough. We now need to battle just as hard in the next few games as well."
Schalke: Neuer - Westermann, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Ernst, Jones - Streit (Asamoah 75'), Sanchez (Lovenkrands 71') - Altintop, Larsen (Kuranyi 60')
Rostock: Wächter - Langen, Sebastian, Gledson, Pearce - Bülow, Rathgeb - Bartels (Cetkovic 82'), Rahn (Yelen 67') - Kern, Shapourzadeh (Menga 46')
Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg)
Goal: 1-0 Altintop (52')
Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Jones (5/2) - Shapourzadeh (5), Rahn (5/1), Langen (4)
