Week 27 - Match report
Schalke forced to settle for 2-2 draw at HSV
In the reverse fixture against HSV the Royal Blues secured a point with a superb late comeback. This time they came from behind to take the lead, only to surrender the advantage in the closing stages. The 3-3 draw at the VELTINS Arena was thus followed by a 2-2 draw in Hamburg.
Defeats for Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday handed Schalke an opportunity to improve their points tally compared with their closest rivals. And they were given a boost before kick-off when Heiko Westermann came through a fitness test. The Schalke skipper overcame a calf problem to start against a home side who were contesting their 43rd competitive game of the season. Hamburg had been in Europa League action just three days earlier, progressing from the first knockout round at the expense of RSC Anderlecht. Despite showing no signs of fatigue they saw the Royal Blues gradually take control of the proceedings as the first half wore on. But a counterattacking Schalke were unable to capitalise on a mistake by HSV defender David Rozehnal on 27, and four minutes later Ivan Rakitic failed to take the ball round Frank Rost as the keeper rushed out of his goal.
The payback came in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutch marksman pounced on Manuel Neuer's parry following a free-kick to fire his side into a 40th minute lead from the rebound. "We controlled the game in the first half," said Felix Magath. "So it was all the more annoying to go in behind at the interval." The Schalke boss was especially critical of the way the goal came about, saying: "There was no need to commit a foul in that situation."
In the second period both sides came out firing and created a string of opportunities. And Kevin Kuranyi showed an unerring eye for the target once again, heading his 15th goal of the season to restore parity and equal his personal best for the club.
There was more excitement just four minutes later when referee Wolfgang Stark pointed to the penalty spot after Van Nistelrooy had brought down substitute Alexander Baumjohann in the box. Ivan Rakitic grabbed the ball and drove the spot-kick into the left-hand corner to put Schalke 2-1 ahead. Or so he thought. As several players had encroached into the area, the referee ruled that the kick should be taken again. Rakitic stepped up again, directing his shot into the other corner and this time the goal stood.
Soon afterwards Schalke substitute Edu had the opportunity to put his side firmly on the road to victory. Having already rounded Rost he knocked the ball towards goal, only to be denied by Rincon, who had slid into the goal and somehow managed to head the ball off the line while lying face down on the ground. The Venezuelan's peculiar sliding clearance kept HSV in the game and Schalke were eventually made to pay for not making better use of their chances. Pitroipa made it 2-2 after 77 minutes, and though there were further opportunities for both sides that was to be the end of the scoring.
The result left Felix Magath in two minds after the final whistle. "A point in Hamburg is obviously a reason for satisfaction, but today it could have been more," he said. All the more so if his team had showed more ambition. "After going ahead we dropped back too far yet again," he fumed, "and then we lack the quality to take the chances we had to make it 3-1."
Schalke remain in second place in the table, one point behind Bayern Munich. Their lead over Leverkusen has grown to two points after the 2-2 draw and this can change when the two sides meet at the BayArena next Saturday (1830 CET).
Hamburg: Rost - Rincon, Rozehnal, Mathijsen, Jansen - Jarolim, Ze Roberto - Torun (Pitroipa 71'), Trochowski - Van Nistelrooy (Berg 80'), Petric
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Höwedes, Bordon, Westermann - Matip (Edu 61') - Kluge (Baumjohann 46'), Schmitz, Rakitic - Farfan, Kuranyi
Referee: Stark (Ergolding)
Goals: 1-0 Van Nistelrooy (40'), 1-1 Kuranyi (62'), 1-2 Rakitic (pen. 68'), 2-2 Pitroipa (77')
Attendance: 57,000 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Jansen (3) - Kluge (3), Höwedes (3)
