Lasme goal in extra time gives S04 1-0 win in Leipzig

Karaman’s first start of the season, Heekeren in goal

Miron Muslic made five changes to the team that lost in Kaiserslautern last time out. One of those had already been confirmed in the pre-match press conference on Friday: Justin Heekeren started in goal instead of Loris Karius, who wasn’t in the squad. Luca Podlech was named on the bench as the substitute keeper. Nikola Katic, who missed the last game at Kaiserslautern due to suspension and concussion, returned to the back-three, taking the place of Felipe Sanchez.

Max Grüger started alongside Soufiane El-Faouzi in central midfield. The academy product replaced Ron Schallenberg, who was unavailable due to a thigh problem. Kenan Karaman was handed his first start of the season, having made his comeback following a knee injury as a substitute at the Betzenberg last week. The captain came in for Peter Remmert, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. The final change saw Emil Højlund start up front and Adrian Gantenbein drop to the bench.

No goals in the first half

It took Moussa Sylla just 12 seconds to register the first shot of the day in Leipzig. The striker’s attempt from a tight angle flew well wide though. Lok’s first opportunity came in the sixth minute: Justin Heekeren did well to hold on to Farid Abderrahmane’s powerful volley from the edge of the box. Heekeren’s opposite number, Andreas Naumann, then got a chance to show off his reflexes, punching Emil Højlund’s strike to safety.

Naumann was called into action again soon after, this time denying Moussa Sylla from close range after Kenan Karaman had set him up from a Christopher Antwi-Adjei cross (19’). Seven minutes later, Sylla managed to get on the end of a long ball from goalkeeper Justin Heekeren but missed the target with his shot.

The home team didn’t threaten for large parts of the first half, before creating a number of chances within the space of a few minutes. Ayodele Adetula received the ball near the S04 goal but couldn’t get it under control (36’).

Five minutes later, the Leipzig striker’s deflected low shot was tipped wide by Justin Heekeren. The 24-year-old was required again less than 180 seconds after that save, this time keeping out an effort from Alexander Siebeck inside the box. The midfielder was played the ball via a clever back-heel pass from Stefan Maderer. The final chance of the half was also for the fourth-division side. Adetula’s volley from 20 yards out was wide of the mark.

Sylla hits the bar

There was little action in either penalty box at the start of the second half. Schalke had the first opportunity after the break: Max Grüger chipped a ball into the box for Emil Højlund and he found Moussa Sylla, who then tested Andreas Naumann from a tight angle. The goalkeeper did really well to tip his shot over the bar (57’).

Aside from that opportunity, neither team could find gaps in the opposition’s defence. Both coaches regularly brought on fresh faces, with Felipe Sanchez and Janik Bachmann first coming on for the Royal Blues and then Mertcan Ayhan and Bryan Lasme shortly afterwards.

After an extremely quiet period of the game, Moussa Sylla almost won it for the Knappen. Antwi-Adjei teed him up from a Felipe Sanchez cross and the striker hit the bar from a narrow angle (82’).

Leipzig had one final good chance at the death. Djamal Ziane found space in the box and looked to pick out a teammate, but Felipe Sanchez was able to clear the ball near the penalty spot. Tobias Dombrowa’s follow-up attempt went over and the game went to extra time.

Lasme wins it for S04

Miron Muslic made one change for the start of extra time, bringing on Adrian Gantenbein for Kenan Karaman, who completed 90 minutes for the first time in more than three months. Nikola Katic took the captain’s armband from the attacker.

Bryan Lasme had a chance to break the deadlock in the 95th minute. Moussa Sylla played a pass through to the substitute and the Frenchman’s shot was slightly deflected by Laurin von Piechowski and trickled wide for a corner. Six minutes later, Andreas Naumann diverted a Sylla attempt onto the post (101’). He then got the better of Lasme via the post just before half time in extra time.

The travelling Schalke fans finally had a goal to celebrate two minutes after the restart. Nikola Katic chested down a cross from El-Faouzi in the box and Bryan Lasme slotted home with his left foot, leaving Naumann with no chance on this occasion. He did then make another save in the 111th minute, once again against Moussa Sylla, but Lok couldn’t find a way back into the game and failed to test Justin Heekeren in the closing minutes.

Local derby at the VELTINS-Arena

FC Schalke 04 are back in league action next Saturday (23/8). VfL Bochum are the visitors to the VELTINS-Arena for another 20:30 CEST kick off.