Kuranyi and Farfan in target in 3-1 win over Schaffhausen
11.10.2009
The international weekend came to a successful conclusion as Schalke defeated FC Schaffhausen in Radolfzell some 17 hours after lifting the OBI Cup.
The Royal Blues dictated the proceedings from the outset against the side currently sitting in 14th place in the Swiss second division, refusing to let the early loss of Marcelo Bordon knock them out of their stride. Reserve team player Cedric Mimbala came in for the defensive linchpin, who went off after just 13 minutes.
Schalke came close to taking the lead on several occasions in the opening half an hour. First Schaffhausen keeper Darko Tofiloski prevented Lukas Schmitz from scoring straight from a corner with a fine reflex save after ten minutes. Then Jan Moravek hit the bar with a powerful header from Rafinha's centre on 20. Two minutes later Rafinha sent in another cross, but Tofiloski just managed to stop Kuranyi's header sneaking in by the post. And finally referee Robert Kempter disallowed a 24th minute Kevin Kuranyi strike after Tofiloski had failed to collect a Kostadin Dyakov cross, allegedly for a foul on an opponent by the Schalke striker.
The Royal Blues didn't threaten again for another quarter of an hour but when they did they took a long overdue lead. Rafinha played a long ball to Moravek on the edge of the opposition penalty area. Tofiloski rushed way out of his goal to block the young Czech's effort. This he did, but the rebound landed at the feet of Asamoah, who immediately crossed the ball to Kuranyi and the Schalke front man had no trouble heading the ball into the empty net from six metres. Only then did Schaffhausen make their presence felt in attack, but Rafinha was on hand to clear with Newton Ben Katanha waiting to convert a ball in from Peter Läng.
The second half began with a flurry and substitute Jefferson Farfan was in the thick of things. After playing a neat one-two with Kuranyi he found himself through on goal and left substitute keeper Flamur Tahiraj no chance with a low shot from twelve metres.
Shortly afterwards Katanha had a chance at the other end, but directed his header too high. Kuranyi made no such mistake a few minutes later, bundling a Mimbala cross over the line from close range to make it 2-0. Kuranyi almost grabbed his third straight after when his bouncing header from Farfan's left-wing cross flew narrowly past the right-hand upright. Schalke goalkeeper Mathias Schober was not called into action until the 65th minute when he diverted a piledriver from substitute Safet Etemi for a corner using both fists.
In the closing stages the Swiss outfit weighed in with two outstanding long-range efforts. The first came after the Schalke defence failed to close down Igor Nganga, allowing him to hammer the ball just inside the left-hand post from well outside the box. Davide D'Acunto almost repeated the feat from a good 30 metres out three minutes from time, but his shot struck the crossbar.
Schaffhausen: Tofiloski (Tahiraj 46') - Stamm, Berisha, Nganga, Schlauri - Ademi, Nater (D'Acunto 80'), Läng - Cengel (Etemi 62'), Katanha (Frontino 73'), Weller (Jonuzi 46')
Schalke: Schober - Rafinha (Kühn 65'), Pachan, Bordon (Mimbala 13'), Schmitz - Dyakov (Hanzel 46'), Matip, Mineiro (Moritz 46'), Moravek - Asamoah (Farfan 46'), Kuranyi
Goals: 0-1 Kuranyi (39'), 0-2 Farfan (48'), 0-3 Kuranyi (54'), 1-3 Nganga (78')
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: R. Kempter (Sauldorf)
