Ouwejan scores in 2-1 defeat in training game against Verl

Head coach Thomas Reis put out a starting eleven consisting of eleven players that didn’t appear in the goalless draw against VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga or had been subbed on. Thomas Ouwejan and Leo Greiml started, with Éder Balanta playing in defensive midfield. U23 midfielder Marouane Balouk was given a chance from the start, with Simon Terodde starting up front.

Drexler with first chance – Sessa scores for Verl

The first chance of the game fell to Dominick Drexler from a Mehmet Can Aydin pass. The 9th minute shot from Schalke’s number 24 was high of the goal, though. Schalke failed to take the lead, with Simon Terodde failing to finish in the 15th minute and Thomas Ouwejan’s freekick being deflected wide (18’). The visitors made no such mistake, with Nicolas Sessa finding the far corner of Michael Langer’s goal with 21 minutes played.

S04 had more chances overall in the first half, but failed to score. A shot from Tobias Mohr flew wide of Verl’s goal (28’), shortly after Mehmet Can Aydin missed from 18 metres (32’). The guests had a good chance from a Mateo Biondic header (35’), while Verl goalkeeper Tim Wiesner had to be alert to save from Kenan Karaman just before half time (45’).

Sané wins a penalty, Ouwejan converts - late winner for Verl

Michael Langer denied the guests a second at the beginning of the second half (46‘). The first real danger in the Verl box came in the 56th minute, but Simon Terodde failed to score his header from a Thomas Ouwejan corner. With 20 minutes left on the clock, the ‘Knappen’ finally found an equaliser. Substitute Sidi Sané, who came on after an hour, ran from just inside the vistor’s half into the penalty box before being brought down. Thomas Ouwejan stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and level it up at 1-1 (70’).

However, it was the visitors who went on to secure the win. Stijn Meijer scored with just a few minutes remaining after an assist from Joel Grodowski to give Verl a 2-1 win (86’).