Karaman and Kuruçay both score in 2-1 away win in Kiel

A first start for Aouchiche

Head coach Miron Muslic made two changes to the team that drew 2-2 against Dynamo Dresden last weekend. Hasan Kuruçay replaced Mertcan Ayhan at centre-back, while Adil Aouchiche came in for Christian Gomis in the front three. It was the January signing’s first start as a Royal Blue.

Janik Bachmann was named among on the substitutes as he made his return from several weeks out injured. The midfielder came off the bench late on.

Karaman opens the scoring after bright start

Schalke set the tone from the first whistle and created most of their openings down the left. After just two minutes, Edin Džeko couldn’t get his effort on target after a whipped cross from Moussa Ndiaye, and soon after Adil Aouchiche was unable to apply the finishing touch after Dejan Ljubičić won back the ball and delivered it into the box (4’).

Schalke pressed high, had more of the ball and were the more dangerous team in the first half. With 10 minutes played, Dejan Ljubičić shaped for the far corner from 18 yards out, but Kiel keeper Jonas Krumrey produced a flying save. Six minutes later the Royal Blues got the goal their play deserved. From an Adil Aouchiche corner, Timo Becker glanced a header on and the ball fell to Edin Džeko, who teed up Kenan Karaman. From just a few yards out, the captain couldn’t miss as he made it 1-0 to Schalke.

Kiel then had their best chance of the half. John Tolkin got the better of Nikola Katic down the left wing and put a low ball into the middle, where Adrian Kapralik was denied excellently by Loris Karius. The danger wasn’t over, though, as the ball fell for Andu Kelati, but his side-footed effort from a tight angle in the six-yard box went narrowly wide (25’).

Džeko assists Kuruçay

Overall, Schalke had the better chances. Jonas Krumrey first saved from Adil Aouchiche, with Dejan Ljubičić unable to turn in the rebound (27’). Edin Džeko then failed to make a clean contact after another Moussa Ndiaye delivery, and Jonas Krumrey pushed it behind for a corner (28’) – and that set piece led to Schalke’s second goal. Adil Aouchiche’s cross was flicked on by Edin Džeko at the near post and Hasan Kuruçay got a touch on it from close range at the back stick.

Kiel then grew in confidence and briefly thought they had pulled one back, but referee Florian Lechner decided that Phil Harres had fouled Hasan Kuruçay before his header went in from a Tolkin cross (31’). Loris Karius then kept out a shot from Lasse Rosenboom (39’), while at the other end Adil Aouchiche curled an effort from the left side of the box just past the far post (45’). Straight from the resulting goal kick, Edin Džeko pressed and blocked the ball into the path of Kenan Karaman. The scorer of the opener tried to take it round Jonas Krumrey but couldn’t, and while the keeper did make contact with Schalke’s captain, Florian Lechner waved away the penalty appeals. Schalke therefore went in 2-0 up at the break.

A penalty gets Kiel back into the game

Miron Muslic made a change at the break, with Mertcan Ayhan coming on for Timo Becker after the defender picked up a knock. Despite Schalke being in control at the start of the second half, Kiel pulled one back on 55 minutes. Ron Schallenberg brought down Jonas Therkelsen inside the box and David Zec sent the resulting penalty low into the bottom right corner.

Schalke tried to respond straight away: Edin Džeko was first denied when he couldn’t lift the ball over Jonas Krumrey (56’), before the Bosnian fired over after a lay-off from Dejan Ljubičić (59’). Then came a big opening to restore the two-goal cushion, but Kenan Karaman couldn’t get a clean strike away after Adil Aouchiche had teed him up (64’).

Schalke keep the hosts at bay late on

Kiel then pushed hard for the equaliser and had a spell of real pressure. Lasse Rosenboom tested Loris Karius from range and, with the low sun causing problems, the keeper could only parry the shot away to his side (70’). Two minutes later, Edin Džeko’s header fell awkwardly into the path of Phil Harres, who dragged his effort wide of the far post from a tight angle. Hasan Kuruçay then cleared off the line to deny Ivan Nekic (74’), before John Tolkin went straight for goal from a corner with his left foot, forcing Loris Karius to tip it over (77’).

Schalke regained a bit more control after that and kept Kiel at arm’s length. At the other end, Moussa Sylla turned and hit a shot from the edge of the box, but it was a comfortable save for Jonas Krumrey (86’).

Kiel threw everything at the Royal Blues’ defence, but even across five minutes of stoppage time the hosts couldn’t create another clear-cut chance, and Schalke were able to hold on to secure three hugely important points.

Magdeburg up next

Matchday 23 sees the Knappen host 1. FC Magdeburg on Saturday (21/2). Kick off at the VELTINS-Arena will be at 20:30 CET.