4-3 defeat in Croatia against Hajduk Split

21 players feature for Schalke

Thomas Reis used 21 players on Friday night, including a number of players from the U23s who have been given the chance to impress in training over the winter. Centre-back Verthomy Boboy from the U23s was the only player to play the full game.

Polter and Bülter on target in the first half

There was almost a rapid start to this friendly in Croatia, with the hosts coming close to taking the lead in the first minute. Emir Sahiti ran onto a long ball over the Schalke defence, but saw his shot well saved by Ralf Fährmann. Hajduk kept the ball and immediately then had another shot, which was cleared by Ibrahima Cissé. At the other end, Schalke had their first dangerous moment as Sebastian Polter dribbled into the box and then went down after a tackle by Marco Fossati, however referee Ante Terzic chose not to point to the spot.

Polter was involved in Schalke’s next notable attack too. A good ball forward by Cissé found him as he ran in behind, though he dragged his shot past the far post (18’). The home team took the lead with 24 minutes played via Ivan Cubelic, who had the simple job of finding the back of the net from Emir Sahiti’s cross across the six-yard box.

Ibrahima Cissé came close to finding an equaliser in the 34th minute. The defender headed Tobias Mohr’s corner just past the post. Sebastian Polter went one better than his teammate three minutes later, brilliantly back-heeling Marius Bülter’s cross from the left flank into the far corner.

The two sides each had a shot from distance just after Polter’s equaliser. Sahiti narrowly hit a shot wide (38’) and then Sidi Sané tested out goalkeeper Kario Sentic, who would be beaten for a second time shortly afterwards. Chidozie Awaziem blocked Polter’s shot in the box with his hand and Marius Bülter stepped up to score from the spot to give S04 the lead at the break (44‘).

04 goals in the second half

Both coaches made a number of changes for the second half, including eight new faces for Schalke. The hosts quickly made it 2-2 after the break, thanks to Emir Sahiti’s goal after he stole the ball from Schalke on the edge of the box (47’).

Kenan Karaman had the chance to quickly restore S04’s lead, however Ivan Lucic, the substitute goalkeeper for Hajduk, was on his toes to frustrate the forward from close range (49’). Two minutes later, Lucic easily held a header from Soichiro Kozuki.

Following further chances from both sides, Split went ahead in the 61st minute. Stipe Biuk was free at the back post and passed into an empty net after Rokas Pukstas squared it across the goal. Schalke struggled to make inroads in the final third after going behind and their opponents instead added to their lead from a set piece. Luka Vuskovic, who had just come on, got himself on the scoresheet from a Sahiti free-kick (71’).

The goals continued to come in the second half, with Schalke getting the final one of the night. Soichiro Kozuki, top goalscorer for the U23s this season, got on the end of Andreas Ivan’s cross from a few yards out to reduce the deficit (73’). The closest the Royal Blues came to a fourth goal was ten minutes before the end. From a short corner, Ivan came inside and pulled the trigger. The ball was deflected several times and Lucic was forced to make a crucial save.  Soichiro Kozuki had a shot go wide in injury time and it therefore finished 4-3 to the Croatians.

Friendly against 3. Liga outfit

The final match of 2022 will be away against VfL Osnabrück. The game against the third-division side will kick off at 19:00 CET on Thursday (22/12).