week 7 - match report

Late equaliser rescues point for Schalke

It was almost a carbon copy of last season's fixture. But despite going behind after taking a first-half lead, Schalke had Kevin Kuranyi – and Manuel Neuer - to thank for ensuring the game ended in a 2-2 draw rather than a home defeat against VfL Wolfsburg.

Fred Rutten made five changes to the side that started against APOEL in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Manuel Neuer returned in goal and there were recalls for the fit-again Jefferson Farfan and Jermaine Jones as well as Heiko Westermann, a second-half substitute against the Cypriots, while Levan Kobiashvili came in for the injured Christian Pander (calf). This rejigged team was faced with the task of finding gaps in a tightly packed Wolfsburg defence.

This they did with some flowing passing play, especially in the first 20 minutes. Rafinha and Farfan were a particular threat down the right-hand side. Halil Altintop and Kevin Kuranyi were also full of running and they were repeatedly picked out by Orlando Engelaar.

And after some initial chances had been squandered Kuranyi got on the end of a quick passing move to open the scoring in the 20th minute. "It was a decent performance in the first half. We played with a lot of composure and took a deserved lead", said Rutten.


Wolfsburg continued to wait for an opening after the restart. And their patience was rewarded. Only twice were Schalke careless at the back, but the visitors took full advantage both times. Edin Dzeko levelled the scores on 51 after a throw-in had been flicked on, and 15 minutes later Caiuby gave Wolfsburg the lead just moments after coming on as a substitute. "In the first ten minutes of the second half we were half asleep, our minds weren't on the game", was how Rutten described this phase of the game.

First 1-0 to the Royal Blues, then 2-1 to Wolfsburg -  exactly how February's clash at the VELTINS Arena had unfolded. "Before the game I said I'd like to see a repeat of last season's game and we almost got that", said Wolfsburg boss Felix Magath after the final whistle.

Schalke looked certain to equalise on 72, however, when Ricardo Costa's attempt to prevent Westermann bursting through resulted in a penalty for Schalke and a red card for the Portuguese defender. But for the first time in Schalke colours Rafinha failed to convert the spot kick.

The Royal Blues launched a wave of attacks against the ten men of Wolfsburg, but in the closing stages they resorted to many diagonal balls from midfield instead of getting down the flanks. Dzeko could even have put the game beyond Schalke's reach on the counter, only to be denied by a fantastic reflex save by Neuer. And not long after that the Schalke keeper was to prove just as effective at the other end. For in the final minute of stoppage time it was Neuer's attempted shot that fell at the feet of Kuranyi, who prodded the ball home for the equaliser.

"If the penalty had gone in, we might have been able to turn the game round. But seeing as the equaliser came in the last second, we're happy nonetheless", concluded Rutten. Magath said: "Unfortunately we conceded the goal in stoppage time. But we put in a good performance which is why I'm pleased with the game."

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Kobiashvili - Jones (Sanchez 76') - Westermann, Engelaar - Farfan, Kuranyi, Altintop
Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Riether, Ricardo Costa, Barzagli, Schäfer - Zaccardo, Josue - Dejagah (Caiuby 65'/Madlung 73'), Misimovic, Gentner (Hasebe 65') – Dzeko
Goals: 1-0 Kuranyi (20'), 1-1 Dzeko (51'), 1-2 Caiuby (66'), 2-2 Kuranyi (90' +3)
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)
Attendance: 60,549
Red card: Ricardo Costa (last-man foul 71')
Yellow cards: Krstajic, Kuranyi, Bordon, Jones - Riether (2), Misimovic (2)
Incidents of note: Benaglio saves Rafinha's penalty (72')