Lasme scores on his comeback in 2-1 win over NAC Breda

Lasme back in action, Hoffmann starts in goal

Bryan Lasme was able to make his long-awaited return from injury to start the game against the Dutch opposition. Of the players that played last Sunday against 1. FC Köln, only Mehmet Can Aydin, Anton Donkor, Ilyes Hamache, Amin Younes and Christopher Antwi-Adjei started the game. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann began in goal.

Wasinski takes advantage of the goalkeeper’s mistake

The Royal Blues had the first bright moments at the Parkstadion: Donkor’s powerful cross from the left couldn’t find a teammate (6’) and Marcin Kaminski’s free-kick from around 30 yards out failed to really test Breda goalkeeper Roy Kortsmit (8’). At the other end, NAC scored with their first notable attack. Martin Wasinski was caught in possession and Max Balard quickly played it through to Elias Omarrson, who was able to beat Hoffmann from a central position (11’).

Wasinski was able to quickly cancel out his error, however. S04’s number 21 continuously went up the pitch for attacks and benefitted from Kortsmit’s mistake after around half an hour. The goalkeeper passed it straight to the Belgian around 25 yards out from goal and he took one touch before firing it past the helpless shot-stopper (28’). Wasinski almost grabbed a second goal too moments later. This time though, Kortsmit made a great save after Donkor had passed it to his fellow summer signing (32’).

While Schalke looked to carve open the NAC defence with some quick interplay, the visiting team sat back and aimed to threaten from counter-attacks. The most dangerous one saw Omarrson just put a shot past Hoffmann’s post (37’). Instead, Schalke scored a second goal before the break. A misplaced pass by a Breda defender fell to Younes and he slipped in Lasme, who produced a thunderous finish to make it 2-1 on his return (39’).

Debut for Zazalar

Lasme’s first appearance in several months was ended soon after the interval as he was replaced by Peter Remmert. While Breda aimed to find an equaliser, Schalke had the first big chance of the second half, again through Wasinski. The former Kortrijk man headed a free-kick wide from the back post (56’).

The away side committed more bodies forward as the game went on and missed two good chances to equalise. Firstly, Kacper Kostorz put his shot wide from a good position (71’), and then Adam Kaied missed the target too (76’).

The Knappen, who introduced Mauro Zalazar in the 65th minute for his first-team debut, had some promising moments too, including Hamache’s cross that evaded everyone (80’). Ultimately, Karel Geraerts’ team kept it tight and held on to the win late on.