week 21 - match report

Kuranyi's "world-class goal" not enough to beat Dortmund

For two-thirds of the game, the Royal Blues had the visitors from Dortmund totally under control, and they led for much of it thanks to a dream strike by Kevin Kuranyi. But the advantage was to prove too slender. A late equaliser by BVB striker Mohamed Zidan ruined Schalke's evening.

"We're very disappointed", a frustrated Fred Rutten said after the final whistle. "I've absolutely no problems with the attitude of my team, just with the result. Our organisation and fighting spirit were outstanding", the Schalke boss said, "but if you don't get the second goal, you can't say you were unlucky afterwards."

Rutten was forced to jettison his tactical concept almost immediately when Mladen Krstajic limped off with a thigh injury after a nasty foul by Kevin-Prince Boateng in the fourth minute. Referee Wolfgang Stark showed Boateng a yellow card, but the former Tottenham man could have had no complaints had he been sent off.

Heiko Westermann dropped back from midfield into central defence, making way for Halil Altintop, whose industry ushered in the opening goal on 20 minutes. The Turkey international whipped in a cross from the right-hand corner flag, and Kuranyi gave the Royal Blues a deserved lead with a superb horizontal bicycle kick. "It was a world-class strike", enthused Rutten. Brimming with confidence, Schalke continued to dominate. refusing to allow the visitors to settle down. They were always a shade quicker to the ball and could well have gone in at half-time further ahead. "Schalke have incredible dynamism and physical presence", praised BVB coach Jürgen Klopp. "We were left chasing shadows, and that really hurt."

In the second half Dortmund sought to mount some pressure of their own, without ever posing much of a threat. Not until the Royal Blues had squandered several opportunities to extend their lead on the break did Dortmund begin to sense they had a chance. "We defended a bit too deeply in that phase", criticised Rutten, who would have been a lot happier had his side taken what were some clear-cut chances. Instead, substitutes Zidan and Valdez began to work the Schalke defence.

Nine minutes from time an exchange of passes between the two culminated in Zidan levelling the scores, an unnecessary goal that would have been easier to stomach had the Royal Blues made better use of their chances. "Obviously it's disappointing to come away with just a draw", admitted Rutten afterwards. A relieved Jürgen Klopp said: "In the second half we showed more bite and earned ourselves a point. So I'm definitely happy with the draw."

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Höwedes, Krstajic (Altintop 10'), Kobiashvili - Westermann, Jones, Engelaar – Farfan, Kuranyi, Asamoah
Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Owomoyela, Felipe Santana, Subotic, Schmelzer - Kringe (Kullmann 75'), Kehl, Sahin - Boateng (Zidan 46'), Hajnal - Frei (Valdez 58')
Goals: 1-0 Kuranyi (20'), 1-1 Zidan (81')
Referee: Stark (Ergolding)
Attendance: 61,673 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Höwedes (3) - Boateng (3), Schmelzer, Kehl (4), Valdez (3)