Royal Blues beaten 2-1 by 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Bachmann comes in for the suspended Karaman

Head coach Kees van Wonderen made just one change to his side from the 2-2 draw with Hamburger SV last time out. That was enforced, as Kenan Karaman is serving a two-game suspension after his red card against the Rothosen. Janik Bachmann came in for him. Christopher Antwi-Adjei returned to the squad after injury, and the forward was named on the bench.

Yokota pounces to put FCK ahead

Dangerous Kaiserslautern forward Ragnar Ache was heavily involved in the game’s first big chance. S04 goalkeeper Justin Heekeren was just about able to get to the ball ahead of him after a through ball into his path (2’). This was one of several through balls with which FCK looked to beat the Schalke defence during the first 45 minutes. The hosts piled on the pressure early and won two corners, neither of which created too much danger (4’/5’). Soon after, Kenny Redondo powered through the middle, but Justin Heekeren was quickest to the ball again (10’).

After getting through the first few minutes, the Royal Blues advanced into the FCK penalty area for the first time. Tobias Mohr put a number of crosses into the box., which the hosts’ defence were able to clear without too many problems (12’). A few minutes later, Paul Seguin’s ball-in from a free kick found Ron Schallenberg on the right, and his cross into the middle arrived at the feet of Janik Bachmann. The first-time shot from Schalke’s number 14 flew over the bar however (16’). Max Grüger’s header from a corner two minutes later was also too high (18’).

The hosts meanwhile continued to threaten on the counterattack. Daisuke Yokota tried his luck from distance, but Ron Schallenberg managed to get himself in the way of the shot (15’). Soon after, Justin Heekeren was able to save another shot from Yokota (17’). The Schalke goalkeeper also got himself to a fizzed ball-in ahead of Ragnar Ache (22’), before denying him again after a strike from around 18 yards out (25’). The FCK striker then tried a chip a few minutes after when unchallenged, but it went well wide of the post (33’).

Justin Heekeren was then left powerless though. Kenny Redondo put a cross from the left in towards the far post, which Ragnar Ache met with a header. Justin Heekeren could only parry, and Daisuke Yokota reacted quicker than both the goalkeeper and Ron Schallenberg to hammer home the opening goal for the hosts (35’). The Knappen tried to level before the break through crosses from Taylan Bulut from the right and Tobias Mohr from the left, but the defence was able to clear. On the stroke of half time, Moussa Sylla had a first-time shot after a long ball into him, but it went over the bar (45’).

Sylla equalises but Ache scores the second

Head coach Kees van Wonderen made an attacking change at half time by bringing on Emil Højlund for Max Grüger, but it was FCK who started the better. Just a few seconds after the restart, Daniel Hanslik found himself through on Justin Heekeren’s goal, but the Schalke ‘keeper made the save (46’). The Knappen then looked determined to pile on more pressure though, including through their newly-arrived striker. They finally got their reward for this just after the hour mark. A square ball across goal was taken away from Janik Bachmann, but the ball then came back to him. Bachmann’s shot was saved, but it landed at the feet of Moussa Sylla, who poked home the equaliser (61’).

S04 kept on pushing forward, particularly through Emil Højlund. The attacker firstly won a corner (65’), before he headed a deep delivery towards the far post narrowly wide (67’). Kaiserslautern remained a danger on the counter though. Daisuke Yokota firstly arrived through on goal, albeit from an offside position, before Ragnar Ache curled home from around 17 yards out to leave the goalkeeper with no chance. This goal was however checked and chalked off by VAR because of an offside in the build-up (72’).

Just five minutes later though, the FCK striker was celebrating once more. Ragnar Ache got the better of Marcin Kaminski to latch onto a long ball and finish into the bottom corner from around 17 yards out. This time, there was no offside and FCK took the lead (77’). The Royal Blues looked to hit back. They had brought on Adrian Gantenbein for Mehmet Can Aydin (69’) and Amin Younes for Tobias Mohr (74’) before the goal, as well as Tomas Kalas and Pape Meïssa Ba for Paul Seguin and Moussa Sylla afterwards.

The hosts were able to counter because of S04’s attacking set-up, but Faride Alidou was flagged offside (80’). Marlon Ritter fired well wide with a shot following a corner (82’). Before that, Derry John Murkin had picked up his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul on Ragnar Ache, meaning that he will miss the home game against SC Paderborn.
The visitors kept on getting the ball forward, but FCK were able to clear up until the start of injury time. At the start of the six minutes of added time though, Pape Meïssa Ba had a big chance to equalise. The striker was free at the far post after a cross from the right, but headed the ball over the bar (90+1’). FCK defended until the end, and the Royal Blues could not create any more real chances, and it eventually ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

At home on Friday evening

FC Schalke 04 are back in action as soon as Friday (2/5). SC Paderborn 07 travel to the VELTINS-Arena to kick off Matchday 32 of the 2. Bundesliga. Paderborn drew 1-1 with SV Elversberg in their last game, and currently sit fifth on 49 points.