Schalke go down 2-1 in Berlin
25.07.2009
The Royal Blues were defeated 2-1 by newly promoted second division side Union Berlin on Saturday in a warm-up game in support of the anti-violence campaign run by Schalke's principal sponsor, GAZPROM. Vicente Sanchez got Schalke's goal just after the interval.
Schalke's outing in the capital had a curious beginning. Referee Marcel Unger of Halle an der Saale and his assistants arrived late at the stadium, resulting in the game being delayed by a quarter of an hour.
The game eventually kicked off at 3.45 pm and there was to be an early shock for Felix Magath's men. With just two minutes gone Union striker Karim Benyamina gave the home side the lead with their second chance of the game. Hüzefeye Dogan crossed the ball in from the right and Shergo Biran's clever dummy allowed Benyamina to guide a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
Schalke did not seem ruffled by the early goal, however, and on a wet surface they were the better team in the ensuing period, although the majority of the play was in midfield. Union maintained a compact defence and it wasn't until the 29th minute that the Royal Blues fashioned their first opening.
Jefferson Farfan embarked on a fine solo run past three defenders, only to see his shot saved by goalkeeper Jan Glinker. Less than 60 seconds later the Union custodian was in action again, this time gathering a fiercely struck corner from Farfan on the goal line. The home side created two chances just before the interval, but neither Macchambes Younga-Mouhani's 39th minute shot nor a Marco Gebhardt effort on 44 troubled Manuel Neuer.
The second half began much like the first – with plenty of momentum and an early goal. For just four minutes after the restart Vicente Sanchez restored parity for the Royal Blues. The Uruguay forward, who was introduced at half-time, ran into the inside left channel and unleashed a pinpoint shot from just outside the box that flew into the top right-hand corner, leaving Glinker with no chance.
But the home side showed the right response five minutes later when Younga-Mouhani restored their advantage. Benyamina broke down the left and crossed the ball into the middle and the Union midfielder slotted home from close range.
The Royal Blues kicked off again looking determined to level the scores once again. Yet as in the first half they were unable to capitalise on their midfield dominance and superior possession against the battling Berliners. Because for all their efforts chances remained at a premium for the Royal Blues.
Their only decent opportunity was a Marcelo Bordon header from a 61st minute corner. And with nine minutes left the home side almost put through their own net. A Union defender sliced the ball towards his own goal in a goalmouth scramble, but Glinker was alert and made the save.
Two minutes from time Neuer had to pull out all the stops to defuse Michael Bemben's lob. And Bemben was in the thick of things again 60 seconds later, though this time at the other end, clearing the ball off the line at the last second to gain a small piece of revenge for the 2001 DFB Cup Final, a game the Royal Blues won 2-0.
Union Berlin: Glinker - Bemben, Stuff (Schulz 46'), Göhlert, Kohlmann – Brunnemann (Parensen 77'), Dogan, Younga-Mouhani (Peitz 68'), Gebhardt (Mattuschka 46') – Benyamina (Sahin 68'), Biran (Mosquera 46')
Schalke: Neuer – Rafinha, Zambrano, Bordon, Moravek (Kobiashvili 46') – Westermann, Höwedes, Farfan (Streit 76'), Holtby (Sanchez 46') – Altintop (Asamoah 68'), Kuranyi
Goals: 1-0 Benyamina (2'), 1-1 Sanchez (49'), 2-1 Younga-Mouhani (53')
Yellow cards: Dogan, Bemben - Zambrano, Bordon
Referee: Unger (Halle/Saale)
Attendance: 13,509
