Schalke win "dress rehearsal" in Saarbrücken
29.07.2009
The Royal Blues picked up a positive result in their final warm-up game before the competitive season begins at TSV Germania Windeck this Saturday. Goals from Ivan Rakitic and Lewis Holtby saw Felix Magath's men to a 2-0 win over fourth-tier outfit FC Saarbrücken in front of 19,356 spectators at the Ludwigsparkstadion on Wednesday evening.
The home side got off to the better start, creating two good chances in the opening stages. But Manuel Neuer was alert on both occasions. Schalke's first sign of life came in the 13th minute when Kevin Kuranyi received the ball in the Saarbrücken half and unleashed a shot from the edge of the area, only to see it blocked by a defender at the last second.
Four minutes later Jefferson Farfan had the next chance. The Peruvian chested down Levan Kobiashvili's left-sided cross before firing off a shot on the turn that Saarbrücken keeper Michael Müller defused with a brilliant save. Schalke went close again on 24 when Kuranyi headed a right-wing cross from Rafinha against the bar.
Neuer was next called into action in the 28th minute when he gathered Manuel Zeitz's shot after the Saarbrücken man had broken clear down the right and burst into the penalty area. And the Schalke stopper also came out on top on 35, saving Nico Zimmermann's shot from 12 metres following a clever through ball by Nico Weissmann.
Sixty seconds earlier it had been all hands to the pump for the courageous fourth-division side. Halil Altintop combined with Farfan to launch a quick attack down the right that saw Farfan fashion an opening for the Turkey international with a cross to the far post. Altintop's skilful effort was pushed away by Müller, and Heiko Westermann's rebound shot was cleared off the line by former Schalke man Marcel Rozgony, ensuring it remained goalless at half-time.
The first two opportunities in the second period again fell to the home side. Zimmermann went on a solo run before shooting narrowly wide of the left-hand upright on 50, and three minutes later Velimir Grgic and Michael Petry linked up to good effect. The former slotted a clever pass through to his team-mate, who forced Neuer into an excellent block with a shot from 13 metres, and Grgic headed the rebound just wide of the left-hand post.
The game's opening goal arrived with an hour gone. Kuranyi dispatched a cross from the right-hand side to the edge of the penalty area, where Nabil Dafi misjudged the flight of the ball slightly. And Rakitic took full advantage, rifling a shot into the top right-hand corner from just inside the box. The home side did not let the goal affect them, however, and almost restored parity through Gregory Strohmann just three minutes later. The substitute striker's diving header was turned round the post for a corner by Neuer at the last second.
But with the pace beginning to take its toll that was to be their final chance for quite some time. And the Royal Blues, looking livelier and stronger at the back in the second half, extended their lead on 66 minutes. After receiving the ball on the edge of the area Lewis Holtby took a few steps towards goal before unleashing a shot that flew into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
Saarbrücken had a narrow escape three minutes later when substitute keeper Maximilian Böhmann could only parry Altintop's free-kick. But Levan Kenia, also on as a substitute, arrived a touch too late to capitalise on the rebound. Schalke continued to dominate the possession but were unable to threaten again. And with the game entering its closing stages the home regrouped for one last effort. But neither Sammer Mozain, who came second best to Neuer on 86, nor Caner Metin, whose 90th minute shot hit the side-netting, had the luck on their side.
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Zambrano, Bordon, Kobiashvili (Flavio 36') - Westermann, Farfan (Kenia 60'), Holtby (Pliatsikas 81'), Rakitic (Moravek 60') - Kuranyi, Altintop
Goals: 0-1 Rakitic (60'), 0-2 Holtby (66')
Attendance: 19,356
