Group stage: Schalke - Istanbul Report
Schalke still in running after 2-0 win over Fenerbahce
Schalke: Rost - Rafinha, Bordon, Rodriguez, Krstajic - Ernst (Varela 82'), Poulsen - Altintop (Sand 64'), Kobiashvili - Lincoln - Kuranyi (Bajramovic 90'+2)
Coach: Rangnick
Fenerbahce: Volkan - Serkan, Fabio Luciano, Önder, Ümit - Appiah, Selcuk, Aurelio - Nobre (Mehmet 46') - Tuncay, Anelka
Coach: Daum
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
Goals: 1-0 Kuranyi (32'), 2-0 Sand (90'+1)
Attendance: 53,993 (sold out)
Red card: Fabio Luciano after a last-man foul (40')
Red card (second yellow): Aurelio for persistent foul play (55')
Yellow cards: Rafinha (3) - Ümit, Tuncay
FC Schalke 04 (1) 2 - 0 (0) Fenerbahce Istanbul
The Royal Blues maintained their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 home win over Fenerbahce thanks to goals from Kevin Kuranyi (32') and Ebbe Sand (91'). Despite a strong first half performance, Schalke struggled for long periods in the second after the Turkish champions had had two men sent off.
It was clear from the outset that the Royal Blues were determined to make amends for recent showings in the DFB Cup at Eintracht Frankfurt and in the Bundesliga at SV Hamburg, showing the necessary aggression in the tackle and constantly looking to play the ball forward when in possession.
In the 29th minute Schalke fashioned two great chances within seconds of each other. First, Levan Kobiashvili went for goal after a dream move involving Kuranyi and Lincoln, only to see the ball strike Fenerbahce central defender Fabio. Then, Lincoln's cross found Kobiashvili in lots of space, but the Georgian's shot was too feeble and Volkan was able to make the save.
The goal eventually came three minutes later when Frank Rost's long punt downfield was headed on by Poulsen to Lincoln, whose cross from the left channel was headed into the far corner by Kuranyi from eleven metres.
Four minutes before the break the game gathered even more momentum when Fabio Luciano was shown the red card for denying Lincoln an obvious goalscoring opportunity. And when Marco Aurelio clattered Kuranyi and was shown a second yellow card in the 57th minute, the game seemed all but over as a contest. But despite having a two-man advantage, Schalke had more problems coping with Fenerbahce than they did when it was eleven against eleven. Being in front, the Royal Blues were unwilling to take too many risks, but the fans, who had given the team great backing until then, gradually became impatient in their wait for the second goal.
And so it was that an air of uncertainty developed in Schalke's play that Fenerbahce almost exploited to their advantage five minutes from time when Anelka skipped past Marcelo Bordon, only to lose control of the ball as he attempted to slip it to Appiah, who was completely unmarked in front of goal.
Not until stoppage time did Schalke finally settle their nerves. Rafinha, who had just been booked for the third time and is thus suspended for the home clash with PSV Eindhoven, sent in a cross to Sand, who headed home the second.
The result leaves the Royal Blues every chance of progressing from Group E of the Champions League, though PSV Eindhoven's home win over AC Milan has made for an exciting run-in.
