S04 win 4-2 away at league leaders Paderborn

Two changes to the starting eleven

Head coach Kees van Wonderen made two changes to his starting line-up. Mehmet Can Aydin and Paul Seguin started in place of Tomas Kalas and Max Grüger, both of whom were named on the bench.

Sylla and Karaman on target in the first half

Both sides looked to gain the upper hand amid rainy conditions on a pitch that was at times difficult to play on. There were already a number of hard-fought individual battles in the first few minutes, even if the game had to be stopped on several occasions for players to receive treatment. The supporters at the Home Deluxe Arena did not see too much goalmouth action at first, but, in the eleventh minute, Paderborn took the lead almost out of nothing. Koen Kostons powered home a shot from around 12 yards after getting on the end of a long ball from his own half by Felix Götze.

The Royal Blues needed a few minutes to adjust to being behind, but they were soon galvanised to go on the hunt for an equaliser. Kenan Karaman was just inches away to getting on the end of Seguin’s low cross from the left into the six-yard box, but Markus Schubert was there to smother the ball. Soon after the though, the former S04 goalkeeper had to pick the ball out of his net. The equaliser came from an excellent move. Amin Younes advanced forward in midfield and switched the play with a through ball to Mehmet Can Aydin. Moussa Sylla was initially denied by Markus Schubert after getting to Aydin’s square ball, but made no mistake at the second attempt (23’).

The Royal Blues stayed on the attack after the equaliser and almost scored again ten minutes after the deserved equaliser. Derry John Murkin’s shot from around 25 yards curled towards goal, beating the SCP goalkeeper. The ball however clattered the bar and went over. Ron Schallenberg also had a good opportunity. The former Paderborn man got his head to Murkin’s corner at the far post, but Markus Schubert denied him (39’).

The second goal eventually came in the 43rd minute. After Paul Seguin won the ball back, Derry John Murkin played the ball through to Kenan Karaman. The attacker skilfully beat Felix Götze before calmly slotting past Markus Schubert into the far corner. Schalke went in 2-1 up at the break after an excellent first half.

Two assists for Seguin

The league leaders made the better start to the second half and made it 2-2 in the 54th minute. Defender Felix Götze headed in Zehnter’s cross from the left, leaving Justin Heekeren with no chance.

Just like after the first goal though, Schalke reacted well and looked to attack straight away, although without creating too many clearcut chances at first. In the 69th minute however, the Royal Blues retook the lead from a dead ball. Paul Seguin’s deep free kick from the left found Kenan Karaman, who got the better of Calvin Brackelmann to head into the far corner.

Felix Götze almost made it 3-3 a few minutes later. The SCP centre-back was inches away from his second of the day with a header from a corner (72’). Schalke then went close again at the other end. After being played through by Aydin, substitute Christopher Antwi-Adjei rounded the opposing ‘keeper, but fired into the side netting from a tight angle. Mehmet Can Aydin’s shot in the 82nd minute also failed to find the net, as his strike from distance was parried away by Markus Schubert.

Janik Bachmann though sealed the win four minutes from time. After Paul Seguin had initially hit the wall from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, his second ball-in landed on the head of Schalke’s number 14, and his header flew past Markus Schubert. In the final stages, the Royal Blues stayed defensively solid and took home a deserved three points.

Düsseldorf up next at the VELTINS-Arena

In their final home game of 2024, S04 will host Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday (14/12). The match at the VELTINS-Arena will kick off at 13:00 CET.