A goal fest in the opening minutes as S04 draw 2-2 against Bocholt

22 players in action

Thomas Reis included 22 players in the squad. Four of them, Marouane Balouk, Verthomy Boboy, Kelsey Meisel und Malik Talabidi, are normally part of the U23 squad that will also face 1. FC Bocholt on matchday 1 of the upcoming season in the Regionalliga West.

Dominick Drexler and Paul Seguin, who were in form in the first friendly at SC Spelle-Venhaus (3-0), were missing from the squad this time (a precautionary measure for both). In addition, Rodrigo Zalazar and Kenan Karaman were not part of the squad after their return from holiday. Both are suffering from a fever.

Four goals in the first eleven minutes

The match began at a quick tempo. After barely 20 seconds, the first goal came for the hosts. Malek Fakhro took advantage of a mistake at the back from Schalke and coolly finished against Marius Müller, with the Bocholt striker sliding the ball into the left corner. S04, however, had the perfect reply. Assan Ouédraogo equalised just three minutes later to make it 1-1. The U17 European champion finished well after an excellent solo run, in which he got past numerous opponents.

Simon Terodde put the Royal Blues ahead in his home town in the ninth minute. The striker received the ball behind the defensive line after a fine chipped ball from Assan Ouédraogo and converted from the left-hand side into the far corner. The lead didn’t last long, however, and the hosts immediately struck back to make it 2-2 through Marvin Lorch. The midfielder moved into the middle from the right and scored from 17 yards out (11’).

After a lively start, the fifth goal of the evening didn’t come in the first half. Schalke quickly created two chances after the equaliser, but both times the assistant referee’s flag went up, with Marouane Balouk (14’) and Sebastian Polter (15’) stood in an offside position.

Bocholt did not sit back either. Marc Beckert forced Marius Müller to make a strong save in the 25th minute. Schalke’s goalkeeper had to stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar after a long-range effort from the Bocholt player. At the other end, Marouane Balouk had a shot on the turn after half an hour, but the ball flew over the bar. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Sebastian Polter also had a good chance. The shot from the Schalke striker from 15 yards was saved by goalkeeper Lucas Fox (44’).

Eleven changes for Schalke in the break

At the start of the second half, Thomas Reis made eleven changes to the team. The head coach also changed the system slightly, with a 4-2-2-2 formation replacing the 4-3-3 system used in the first half.

The second half didn’t begin as spectacularly as the first period. The eleven new Schalke players quickly took control of the game, but were not penetrative enough at first. Bryan Lasme had the first shot on goal in the 58th minute. The new signing from Bielefeld had an effort from 15 yards out on the left, but his shot didn’t cause any problems for the opposition goalkeeper. The opponent’s attackers also remained aggressive and tried again and again to put pressure on the Knappen, who were playing a class above.

In the 64th minute, a familiar name came into the game for the hosts: Gian-Luca Reck, son of former S04 goalkeeper Oliver Reck, and, like his father, a goalkeeper, was directly challenged when he closed down a Lasme through ball to Thomas Ouwejan. The goalkeeper was also ready to deal with a volley from close range by Keke Topp (68’). Nine minutes before the final whistle, Gian-Luca Reck would probably have had no chance against a powerful shot from Thomas Ouwejan in the six-yard box, but the ball could only find the side netting.

After 85 minutes played, the Bocholt goalkeeper made a great save against Bryan Lasme, and Kelsey Meisel hit the rebound against the post. Keke Topp had the last chance of the game from a corner kick taken by Thomas Ouwejan. Unlike in the final minute in Spelle, however, last year’s U19s striker headed over the goal (90’), meaning the game ended 2-2.

Training camp in Mittersill

After a day off, the team will set off for the training camp in Mittersill on Saturday (8/7). The Knappen will spend eight days in the holiday destination and national park Hohe Tauern in preparation for the upcoming season.