Schalke lose 3-2 at the hands of Bohemian thanks to last-minute goal

Seven changes to the starting line-up

Four players that began Schalke’s 2-1 away win at Arminia Bielefeld also featured from the off during the friendly against Bohemian FC: Mertcan Ayhan, Hasan Kuruçay, Adrian Gantenbein and Christopher Antwi-Adjei. Head coach Miron Muslic also selected Felipe Sanchez, Anton Donkor, Mauro Zalazar, Janik Bachmann and Finn Porath for his starting XI, along with U19s player Luca Vozar. Justin Heekeren was named between the sticks.

Fast-paced opening sees Bohemian go ahead

In their white away strip, the Royal Blues started with intent, set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. After a swift interchange of passes, Janik Bachmann and Christopher Antwi-Adjei found themselves in front of the penalty area, with the latter cutting inside via a body feint after another one-two, but just losing the ball before he could fire off the first shot (2’). A minute later, Antwi-Adjei received a long ball from Finn Porath before immediately playing the ball diagonally for Janik Bachmann, who was stopped in his tracks by a defender on the edge of the penalty box (3’).

S04 did nevertheless register the first effort of the afternoon. Janik Bachmann latched onto the end of an Adrian Gantenbein cross, only to direct his header straight into the gloves of home keeper James Talbot (8’). The Knappen were the more active of the sides throughout the opening stages, but it was once again Talbot who got to the ball first in the area following a dead ball after Anton Donkor had nodded the ball down for Felipe Sanchez (12’).

After the opening quarter of an hour, Bohemian got a foothold in the game. Archie Meekinson curled a free kick from 20 yards out over the wall but wide of the left-hand post (14’). A minute later, Ross Tierney powered his way from his own half and found himself face-to-face with Justin Heekeren; however, Adrian Gantenbein got back to clear for a corner before the Dublin native could get his shot off (15’). Shortly after that, the Schalke back line blocked another shot from Archie Meekinson (18’) before Justin Heekeren showed what he can do when denying Connor Parsons’ strike from 17 yards (19’).

The hosts were not made to wait long before they were celebrating, though. Following a turnover as consequence of a firm challenge on Finn Porath, the ball found its way to Dawson Devoy on the left-hand side of the box via a pair of passes, who in turn opened up his foot to pick out the far bottom corner (20’). The Royal Blues nearly responded in immediate fashion when Luca Vozar’s shot from 19 yards narrowly missed the far side of the goal after a one-two with Antwi-Adjei (24’).

After that, the primary battle shifted to the centre of the pitch, with chances initially few and far between. It was not until Connor Parsons launched a counterattack, only to be challenged by Mertcan Ayhan and see his shot saved by Justin Heekeren, that the home side had their next chance (34’). The Knappen next made it into the hosts’ penalty area as they received their first corner of the game, but Ayhan failed to connect properly with his attempt (41’). The final opportunity of the half came the way of Antwi-Adjei, who struck over the bar from 17 yards out following a low cross from Finn Porath (44’).

Bachmann twice draws S04 level

Head coach Miron Muslic brought on two new recruits after the break in the form of Ayman Gulasi and Mika Khadr for Anton Donkor and Hasan Kuruçay. Within a few minutes, they were celebrating an equalising goal after Christopher Antwi-Adjei won the ball when pressing the opposition just outside their penalty area. He squared for Janik Bachmann, who slotted home calmly to make it 1–1 (51’).

Bohemian, who made all of eight changes at half-time, continued to look for a way into the final third. Substitute Rhys Brennan played a sharp ball into the penalty area from the left flank, but Felipe Sanchez cleared on the slide (61’). Brennan was then also involved in the home side’s subsequent chance, which happened to bear fruit. Justin Heekeren managed to parry his shot towards the left-hand side away from goal but Adam McDonnell was on hand to tap in and provide Bohemian with a 2-1 lead (64’).

The Knappen fought back once more, evidently working hard in search of another leveller. A powerful first-time strike from Mauro Zalazar was tipped over the bar by substitute goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka (70’). Shortly afterwards, substitutes Mika Wallentowitz and Jakob Sachse combined to cause panic in the Bohemian penalty area, but a seeming  handball by Niall Morahan went unpunished by the referee (72’).

The home side created little in the way of further chances, and the Knappen had them penned back in their own half. A Finn Porath free-kick which was swung into the box had to be dealt with via a header away (74’). S04 were however able to get the better of the Dublin side once more as Mika Wallentowitz headed yet another ball into the penalty area in the direction of Janik Bachmann, who controlled and backheeled into the far corner for 2–2 (81’).

The away team nearly took the lead minutes before the end as well. After a cross was cleared, Mika Wallentowitz let fly from range and goalkeeper Kaczper Chorazka could only parry the ball onto the post, allowing Jakob Sachse to turn home the rebound; however, referee Rob Harvey chalked the goal off for offside (87’). Instead, it was Bohemian who would have reason to celebrate once again with the final action of the game. Dayle Rooney crossed the ball into the penalty area from the left wing and John Mountney headed home to seal a 3-2 home win in the friendly (90’).

Trip to Hannover next up on the agenda

This coming Friday (17/10) sees the Knappen travel to face Hannover 96 on matchday nine of the Bundesliga 2 season. Their hosts currently occupy fifth spot in the division with a point fewer to their name than second-placed Schalke (kick-off 18:30 CEST).