2-2 draw against Fürth to end the calendar year

Brunner and Topp both start, Amadin on the bench

Cedric Brunner replaced Henning Matriciani at right-back to make his first start in almost three months. The other change from the win at Rostock saw Keke Topp play instead of the injured Bryan Lasme up front. U23s striker Nelson Amadin was named on the bench for the first time.

Chances for both sides early on

It was a fast start to this matchday 17 clash as both teams got shots on target early on. Schalke’s first was in the first minute, though Tobias Mohr’s long-range effort caused Fürth goalkeeper Jonas Urbig no real issues. Two minutes later, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net. Armindo Sieb got in behind the S04 defence and rounded Ralf Fährmann to score, however he was well offside when the pass to him was played.

Both teams continued to press forward in search of an opener. Tobias Mohr slipped Keke Topp in behind and he tried his luck from a tight angle, with the shot saved by Urbig (7’). At the other end, Fährmann pushed Damian Michalski’s header from the back post over the bar from a corner (9’).

Idrizi sets up Topp

Schalke had more possession and more control of the game, but it took until the 30th minute for the Royal Blues to create their next chance. Blendi Idrizi played a brilliant ball over the Fürth back-line for Keke Topp and he hit a low shot first time under Urbig for 1-0 (30’). It was the youngster’s first goal in professional football. Greuther Fürth came close to levelling proceedings five minutes after going behind through Julian Green’s dipping free-kick which hit the side-netting.

The Knappen had several chances to double their lead in the dying stages of the first half. Blendi Idrizi fired wide from the edge of the box (43’), then Simon Terodde’s shot from around 12 yards out went over the bar after Kenan Karaman squared it for him. A minute later, Urbig parried a powerful effort from Tobias Mohr (44’), meaning S04 went into the break 1-0 to the good.

Fürth equaliser at the start of the second half

The away team were quick out of the blocks after half time and almost made it 1-1 straight away. Branimir Hrgota’s back-heel pass picked out Armindo Sieb in the box, who turned and pulled the trigger, only to see his shot hit the outside of the post (47’). Simon Terodde was briefly celebrating Schalke’s second after converting from Tobias Mohr’s free-kick, however the flag soon went up (48’).

Instead of another goal for Schalke, it was Fürth who got the second of the game. Sieb’s pass put Hrgota through on goal and he tried to dink it over Fährmann, who stuck his arm up in time to deny him. However, the Swedish forward was first to the rebound and equalised for his team (50’). Both teams struggled somewhat going forward after Hrgota’s goal. The next opportunity came in the 69th minute: Fährmann caught Sieb’s header from a Kerim Calhanoglu delivery – the former S04 man came on as a substitute in the second half.

Karaman scores, Asta equalises – Murkin sent off

The majority of the VELTINS-Arena was celebrating again five minutes later when S04 made it 2-1. Lino Tempelmann played the ball to Derry John Murkin on the left flank and his cross towards the centre of the box found Kenan Karaman. His bullet header arrowed into the bottom corner past Urbig for his sixth league goal of the season (74’).

Schalke’s lead only lasted three minutes this time. Kerim Calhanoglu’s cross from the left wing was pushed away by Fährmann towards Tobias Mohr, who took long to clear the ball and suddenly saw Simon Asta nip in to thump the ball in from close range (77’). The hosts played the final 10 minutes without Derry John Murkin after he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Hrgota (81’). Fürth couldn’t make use of the extra man and a quiet end to the game saw it finish 2-2 in Gelsenkirchen.

Next league game is against HSV

This match against Fürth marked the midway point of S04’s season. Up next in the league is the visit of HSV on Saturday, 20th January (20:30 CET). The Royal Blues will warm up for that one with a friendly against Belgian side KAS Eupen a week before.