Sylla scores four in 19 minutes as S04 win 5-2 in Oberhausen

Academy youngsters feature in Oberhausen

Assistant coach Tim Hoogland took charge of the Schalke side for the short trip to Oberhausen. Head coach Miron Muslic was also in attendance and watched as a number of Knappenschmiede players were given their chance with the first team, with several players away on international duty and others who have featured heavily in recent weeks also rested.

Magnus Rösner and Max Weiland from the U23s, along with U19 player Niclas Damberg, all started for the Royal Blues. Seven more youngsters were introduced during the game: Edion Gashi, Jean-Paul Ndiaye and Louis Tober from the U23s, as well as Amir El Abdouni, Arian Güzel, Kyrylo Khadasevych and Aboubacar Sylla from the U19s. Steve Noode, who is not eligible to play in the Regionalliga West, also featured for the final 30 minutes.

Gantenbein and Lasme make their comebacks

Adrian Gantenbein made his first appearance for the first team since suffering an ankle injury during pre-season. The right-back had already made his comeback for the U23s last weekend, playing 45 minutes in their 1-0 Regionalliga West win over Sportfreunde Lotte. Bryan Lasme also made his first appearance for the first team since recovering from a muscle injury, coming on in the closing stages. The striker had already returned to action in the Bundesliga Talent Series the previous week.

Edin Džeko also featured at the Stadion Niederrhein. The striker will join up with the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team at a later date and is set to make his final international appearance in the UEFA Nations League game against Sweden on 2nd October.

Kesim at the double, Schallenberg pulls one back

The game took little time to burst into life, with Schalke creating two huge chances inside the opening three minutes. Timur Kesim cleared Edin Džeko’s close-range effort off the line before Schalke’s number 10 rattled the woodwork with a left-footed strike from 20 yards moments later. RWO goalkeeper Ryan Valentine looked beaten. Almost immediately, however, the Regionalliga West leaders went ahead. Timur Kesim, who had only just been involved at the other end, met a cross from the right and finished from close range to make it 1-0 (4’).

Schalke almost levelled four minutes later. Adrian Gantenbein played the ball in from the right and Moussa Sylla cleverly let it run through to Edin Džeko, whose low shot was parried by Ryan Valentine. Moussa Sylla was put under just enough pressure as he tried to convert the rebound, with the ball eventually deflected behind for a corner. That set piece brought another opening, with Ron Schallenberg firing narrowly over from five yards.

After the action-packed opening, the game settled down for a few minutes before Timur Kesim met a dangerous Denis Donkor cross at the edge of the six-yard box but could only steer the ball just over (17’). The RWO striker, who has scored eight goals in nine Regionalliga appearances this season, made no mistake a minute later. Arda Süne swung in a corner from the right and he rose to head home, leaving S04 goalkeeper Max Weiland with no chance as the hosts doubled their lead.

Oberhausen made three changes midway through the first half, with goalscorer Timur Kesim, captain Pierre Fassnacht and former Schalke midfielder Max Meyer all making way early. Schalke initially continued with the same XI and nearly halved the deficit through Junior Dina Ebimbe in the 27th minute. Edin Džeko worked the ball out to the right and the summer signing got his shot away, but Ryan Valentine came out on top.

In an unusual move, Oberhausen coach Sebastian Gunkel then made another five substitutions after half an hour, meaning only three of the hosts’ starters remained on the pitch for the final 15 minutes of the first half. One of the replacements, Travis de Jong, got on the end of a cross in the 34th minute but headed straight into Max Weiland’s arms. Schalke had enjoyed a succession of corners shortly beforehand without managing to make any of them count. Four minutes before the break, however, the Royal Blues did pull one back. Luca Vozar delivered a free-kick from the right and Ron Schallenberg attacked it at the near post, heading into the net to make it 2-1.

Sylla shows his eye for goal

Tim Hoogland made four changes at the start of the second half. Finn Porath was joined by three Knappenschmiede players in Kyrylo Khadasevych, Amir El Abdouni and Jean-Paul Ndiaye, with Junior Dina Ebimbe, Max Weiland, Niclas Damberg and Edin Džeko making way. Schalke pushed for an equaliser after the restart and Jean-Paul Ndiaye had the first chance. The U23 striker got the better of an Oberhausen defender inside the box in the 48th minute, but could only roll his effort into the goalkeeper’s arms. Less than two minutes later, Vitalie Becker got a shot away from the left side of the area, only for Ryan Valentine to save again. Another minute later, Jean-Paul Ndiaye headed just over from a Luca Vozar corner.

Schalke did get their equaliser in the 53rd minute. After an RWO corner, Adrian Gantenbein released Moussa Sylla with a through ball. Schalke’s number 9 raced clear, kept his composure in front of goal and slotted home to make it 2-2. Shortly after a double substitution, with Edion Gashi and Steve Noode replacing Adrian Gantenbein and Magnus Rösner, Moussa Sylla struck again. Luca Vozar played the ball across to Jean-Paul Ndiaye, who was well placed to shoot but instead laid it off for the unmarked Moussa Sylla to put Schalke 3-2 ahead (62’).

Moussa Sylla completed his hat-trick soon afterwards. Vitalie Becker drove almost to the byline on the left before sending a low ball into the middle, where Moussa Sylla finished from close range (65’). Just two minutes later, Jean-Paul Ndiaye almost added a fifth, but Ryan Valentine was equal to the young forward’s effort.

Bryan Lasme came on in the 72nd minute and was immediately able to congratulate Moussa Sylla on another goal. Edion Gashi delivered from the right, Ron Schallenberg flicked the ball on and Moussa Sylla headed it home for his fourth of the evening. With 15 minutes remaining, Yannik Möker had the chance to pull one back for RWO but could only hit the post.

Schalke then made another three changes. Louis Tober, Arian Güzel and Aboubacar Sylla – who is not related to Moussa Sylla – replaced Magnus Rösner, Vitalie Becker and Schalke’s four-goal hero, who received warm applause from the supporters. The Royal Blues had one more good opportunity before the final whistle. Ron Schallenberg’s shot was initially saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound fell straight to Jean-Paul Ndiaye, who was denied twice from close range (82’). The score remained 5-2.

Another friendly lined up in Austria

Schalke will use the ongoing international break to play another friendly. Miron Muslic’s side will travel to Austrian top-flight club Austria Lustenau on Saturday (3/10), with kick-off at the SUN MINIMEAL Arena at 15:00 CEST. Eight days later, on Sunday (11/10) at 17:30 CEST, the Royal Blues return to Bundesliga action away to SC Freiburg.