week 3 - match report

1-1 in Wolfsburg: Altintop rescues point for dominant Schalke

Schalke were held to a 1-1 draw at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, despite putting in a good performance and creating a host of chances. The 29,798 spectators at the Volkswagen Arena saw Jacek Krzynowek give the home team the lead in the 36th minute; Halil Altintop equalised four minutes from time. Wolfsburg had Simon Jentzsch to thank for their point. With the home side down to ten men in the second half, the big goalkeeper frustrated the Royal Blues with a string of saves.

"When you get the equaliser so late in the game, you're normally quite happy. But when you dominate a game so much and create as many chances in the second half as we did, you can't be happy with the outcome", said Mirko Slomka after the final whistle.

The Schalke boss made one change to the side that beat Borussia Dortmund in the Ruhr derby last week, Jermaine Jones coming into the starting line-up for the injured Levan Kobiashvili. Jones slotted into the right of the midfield diamond, with Zlatan Bajramovic switching to the left.

The game was a lively affair from the very first minute. Schalke had the better of the play and carved out a string of chances: Gerald Asamoah (12'), Ivan Rakitic (19') and Jermaine Jones (34') all went close. The best opportunity fell to Bajramovic, who blasted over from seven metres (27'). "We were the better side even in the first half", said Slomka, who had just one aspect to criticise: "We weren't clinical enough in front of goal."

For their part, the Wolves struggled to find a way through a solid-looking Schalke defence in the opening half hour. Only once did Krzynowek force his way down the left, but Marcelinho wasn't expecting the cross to come to him and Manuel Neuer was able to gather the ball (16').

But with Schalke looking likely to score at any moment, Wolfsburg snatched a surprise lead. After a harmless challenge by Marcelo Bordon on Sergiu Radu referee Dr Felix Brych awarded a free-kick to the home side. And Krzynowek stepped up to send a curling shot into the top-left corner from 17 metres out (36'). Wolfsburg were in front but it was totally against the run of play.

After the restart Wolfsburg were content to sit deep and invite Schalke forward. And when midfielder Josué was shown a second yellow card in the 52nd minute, Wolves boss Felix Magath elected to withdraw Radu, his only striker, replacing him with another midfielder in Christian Genter. After Marcelinho had missed a great chance to double Wolfsburg's lead on 58, the Royal Blues stepped up the pressure. But neither Kuranyi (50', 61' and 75'), Jones (53'), Rakitic (66' and 70') nor Bordon (82') could steer the ball past the excellent Jentzsch.

"That was a superb performance by the keeper", acknowledged Slomka afterwards. But there was nothing Jentzsch could do four minutes from time when Halil Altintop hammered a rebound into the net from the edge of the area.

Wolfsburg: Jentzsch - Riether, Simunek, Quiroga, Schäfer - Josue - Krzynowek (Baier 71'), Madlung - Dejagah, Marcelinho (Dzeko 77') - Radu (Gentner 55')
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha (Westermann 79'), Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Bajramovic, Ernst, Jones (Özil 63') - Rakitic - Asamoah (Altintop 63'), Kuranyi
Referee:  Dr Felix Brych (Munich)
Goals: 1-0 Krzynowek (36'), 1-1 Altintop (86')
Attendance: 29,798
Red card (second yellow): Josue (52'/persistent foul play)
Yellow cards: Bajramovic