Ouédraogo goal not enough as Schalke draw against Hannover

Ouédraogo returns to the starting line-up

S04 head coach Karel Geraerts only made one change to the side that started in last week’s 0-0 draw against Karlsruher SC. Assan Ouédraogo was named in the starting XI for a competitive game for the first time since October, with Yusuf Kabadayi dropping to the bench. The Germany youth international had previously made two substitute appearances since tearing his syndesmosis ligament at the U17 World Cup last year. Geraerts stuck to his guns as far as the set-up of the side was concerned, as he opted to continue using the 4-4-2 formation.

Hard work in first half leads to well-deserved goal

The travelling Schalke fans unveiled an impressive tifo of the club crest as both sides strode out onto the pitch. The away side didn’t let their supporters down and got off to a bright start. Paul Seguin had the Royal Blues’ first shot of the game after only 30 seconds, but H96 keeper Ron-Robert Zieler was in place to punch the shot to safety. Despite coming to nothing, the early effort made it clear that S04 weren’t going to make things easy for the home side, who have the second-best record in the 2. Bundesliga since the winter break.

Schalke kept piling the pressure on Hannover as the first half progressed. In the ninth minute of the game, Keke Topp was played through on goal by Derry John Murkin. The young striker pulled the trigger from around 16 yards out, but his shot was blocked at the last second by a Hannover defender. Assan Ouédraogo would go one better than Topp in the seventeenth minute. S04’s number 43 picked up the ball in the middle of the park, glided past Bryan Arrey-Mbi and Sebastian Ernst and drove into the box, where he slotted the ball past Zieler to make it 1-0 to the Royal Blues.

The match was much more of an even contest following the opener, as the home team started to make their mark on proceedings. Hannover mostly looked to play long balls over the top, but they weren’t able to catch the Schalke defenders flat-footed. Just before the half-hour mark, Simon Terodde had the chance to extend Schalke’s lead at the other end of the pitch, but Ron-Robert Zieler denied S04’s captain with a superb reflex save (29’).

Marius Müller had less trouble three minutes later, as Havard Nielsen’s shot was straight at Schalke’s number 32. It was the highlight of a quiet 45 minutes for S04’s man between the sticks, with H96 struggling to carve out any clear-cut opportunities to level things up. The Royal Blues stayed alert and kept things tight at the back to ensure that they went into the break with a slender lead.

Hannover equalise late on

The home side looked a lot more energetic following the interval and had the first real opportunity of the second half, as Marcel Halstenberg let fly from around 30 yards out in the 47th minute of the game. However, Tomas Kalas was able to make a crucial block and deflect the ball off target. Nicolo Tresoldi would also have a good chance for the hosts shortly afterwards, but his header from close range sailed over the bar (49’).

Hannover took their foot off the gas after a frantic start to the second 45, as they found it hard to break down the stubborn Schalke defence and create good scoring opportunities. The Royal Blues also struggled to carve out any noteworthy chances, however, and the majority of the action took place in the middle of the park. In the 67th minute, Schalke went close to doubling their advantage again. Unfortunately, Kenan Karaman did not connect well enough with his effort, and the ball trickled just wide of the post.

Derry John Murkin fired over the crossbar in the 77th minute, before Yusuf Kabadayi saw another big opportunity go begging. The substitute cut onto his right foot in the box and tried to bend the ball inside the far post, but his effort was too central and posed no problem for Zieler (80’).

Schalke’s sloppiness in front of goal was punished in the 81st minute, as Hannover scored an equaliser out of the blue. Ex-S04 player Cedric Teuchert straddled two tackles and found himself on the edge of the Schalke box. Paul Seguin tried to nick the ball back off Teuchert, but it somehow ended up bouncing off the midfielder’s boot and nestling in the bottom-left corner of his own net. The hosts almost completed the turnaround five minutes after that, but Nicolo Tresoldi was denied by a fantastic save from Marius Müller. The Schalke keeper also reacted superbly to prevent Louis Schaub from putting H96 ahead in added time. The referee blew his whistle after seven minutes of injury time with the scores at 1-1.

Nürnberg at home up next

FC Schalke will be back in action at 20:30 CEST next Saturday (13/4), as 1. FC Nürnberg make the trip to Gelsenkirchen.