Late Porath goal earns Schalke a deserved victory over Fürth

Unchanged team

Head coach Miron Muslic named the same starting XI from last Saturday’s 2-0 win in Magdeburg. Ron Schallenberg, who suffered a cut to his head during the second half, was fit to play, as was Timo Becker. The defender was taken off last time out after a knock to his pelvis.

S04 on top

The Royal Blues started brightly and registered their first effort in the opening minute. Soufiane El-Faouzi struck from 15 yards out on his left foot but didn’t catch it properly, sending the ball wide of the right post. Moments later, Schalke threatened again inside the Fürth penalty area. After a neat combination between Moussa Sylla and Kenan Karaman, the ball found its way to Vitalie Becker on the left. His low cross ran through to the back post, where Adrian Gantenbein was waiting. His attempt was deflected by teammate Christian Gomis, however, and flew over the crossbar.

After just nine minutes, Miron Muslic was forced into his first change. Timo Becker collided awkwardly with Ron Schallenberg in midfield and was unable to continue. Mertcan Ayhan replaced him. During Becker’s treatment on the sidelines, Schalke launched a promising counter from a Fürth corner. Soufiane El-Faouzi delayed his pass a fraction too long, leaving Christian Gomis unable to connect cleanly, and Vitalie Becker’s follow-up effort then hit the side netting (8’).

Just four minutes later Soufiane El-Faouzi again caused problems, gliding past several defenders and driving into the box, only to fire narrowly over from a tight angle. The visitors, meanwhile, rarely troubled Schalke’s defence in what was an intense, end-to-end battle. Fürth’s play was littered with inaccuracies and they struggled to make any real headway into the final third.

On the half-hour mark, an El-Faouzi corner from the left led to the next chance. Moussa Sylla rose to meet it, but his header lacked power and drifted over Pelle Boevink’s goal. Schalke, who continued to dominate, couldn’t make more of their promising attacks, with the final pass missing on several occasions. Shortly before half time, Fürth’s goalkeeper was called into action again. Karaman skipped past Felix Klaus and struck from 17 yards, forcing Boevink to punch it clear (42’). At the other end, Fürth created their first real opening of the half when Luca Itter whipped a dangerous cross from the left towards the far post, but Vitalie Becker was alert to clear for a corner (45’).

Porath comes off the bench to win it for S04

With no changes at the break, the pattern of play after the restart looked much the same: Schalke continued to dictate proceedings and immediately put Fürth under pressure again. Clear openings, however, took a while to arrive. In the 54th minute, Adrian Gantenbein swung a cross in from the right, and Kenan Karaman met it with a header between the six-yard box and the penalty spot. The captain’s effort was well held by Pelle Boevink.

Fürth boss Thomas Kleine responded just past the hour with a triple substitution in search of fresh impetus up front. Yet the next big chance again fell to the hosts: Nikola Katic stretched to meet a Vitalie Becker free-kick from the left and diverted the ball into the side netting at the far post (68’). Moments later, Becker himself unleashed a powerful drive from 15 yards, forcing Boevink to tip the ball over the bar.

Schalke introduced Finn Porath and Bryan Lasme for Adrian Gantenbein and Christian Gomis in the 71st minute, and the momentum remained firmly with the Royal Blues. Their persistence finally paid off in the final quarter of an hour. Hasan Kuruçay threaded a well-timed pass down the left for Karaman, who was denied from a tight angle by Boevink. The ball stayed alive, however, and fell to Porath near the right-hand post. From a narrow angle he produced a skilful finish to make it 1-0 (77’). Just three minutes earlier, Moussa Sylla had spurned a golden chance to break the deadlock, firing too centrally at the Fürth goalkeeper after Kuruçay had won possession high up the pitch.

Kleine pushed his side higher up the pitch after falling behind and threw on further attacking options. Schalke’s back line, though, held firm against the late onslaught. In stoppage time, Fürth came within a whisker of an equaliser when substitute Omar Sillah headed goalwards from close range, only to be denied by an excellent reflex save from Loris Karius (90+6’). Almost immediately at the other end, Karaman thought he had wrapped up the win with a second goal, but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. After more than eight minutes of added time, referee Tom Bauer blew for full time – sealing a deserved fifth victory of the season for Schalke.

A trip to Bielefeld up next

Schalke’s next game is on the road at Arminia Bielefeld. The clash with last season’s 3. Liga champions is the final one before the second international break of the season and will take place on Sunday (5/10) at 13:30 CEST at the SchücoArena.