After two wins in a row, FC Schalke 04 suffered a small setback in the 2nd Bundesliga. In the home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Schalke couldn’t get past a 2-2 (1-0) draw.
Schalke took the lead twice through youngster Keke Topp (30th minute) and Kenan Karaman (73rd). Branimir Hrgota (50th) and Simon Asta (77th) equalized Fürth. The Franconians are unbeaten for the seventh game in a row and temporarily moved past HSV into third place in the table. Schalke continues to tread water in mid-table and remains 13th.
In front of 60,000 spectators in the Schalke Arena, an entertaining second division game developed from the start. Both teams acted on equal terms despite different table regions, and both teams showed the self-confidence that they had boosted in the past few weeks.
Schalke in particular appeared to be stable at the beginning – this was also due to a very young man in whom coach Geraerts trusted from the start: Keke Topp.
Schalke’s top takes the lead
“I expect a lot of movement from him”, Karel Geraerts had demanded of the young top player before the game, who was in the starting line-up for the first time under the Belgian, also because Brian Lasme had to pass. And Topp delivered. After exactly half an hour of play, the doorbell rang in the Fürth goal.
Blendi Idrizi played a ball wonderfully behind the Fürth chain. Topp picked up the ball and, without hesitation, boldly shot it with his left into the far corner – a nice hit and the first professional goal for the 19-year-old striker. Also: the 17th goalscorer this season for Schalke – a league high.
Uwe Dietz, Sportschau, December 15, 2023 8:56 p.m
Terodde missed the 2-0 for Schalke
Topps’ experienced strike partner Simon Terodde could or should have made it 2-0 shortly before half-time. But the veteran missed a free-standing ball in front of the Fürth goal.
Schalke didn’t go into the break with the lead undeservedly. However, the Franconians had the better start to the second half. Armindo Sieb passed a ball to Hrgota. The Swede initially failed with a lob to Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann, and then he just had to push the rebound over the line.
Asta equalizes for Fürth
But Karaman put Schalke back in the lead after a nice combination from Tino Tempelmann and Derry Murkin. But Schalke’s joy didn’t last long.
Simon Asta equalized for SpVgg coach Alexander Zorninger’s team just four minutes later. Tobias Mohr didn’t hit a ball away, Asta was there and hit the ball over the line. Schalke had to survive the last ten minutes outnumbered because Englishman Murkin picked up a yellow-red card after a foul.
Schalke after winter break against HSV, Fürth in Paderborn
The “Royal Blues” will be challenged against HSV in the new year (Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 8:30 p.m.). The SpVgg are heading to Paderborn (Sunday, January 20, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.).