Schalke misses out on a third win in a row – Fürth jumps past them into third place

Fürth jumps to third place

FC Schalke missed out on their third win in a row, but once again showed improving form. In the duel with the recently convincing SpVgg Greuther Fürth, coach Karel Geraerts’ team had to be content with a 2:2 (1:0) after a strong first half.

In front of 60,166 spectators in the Veltins Arena, the 19-year-old Keke Topp (30th) and Kenan Karaman (73rd) gave the Royal Blues the lead twice on Friday. Thanks to the equalizers from Branimir Hrgota (50th) and Simon Asta (77th), the guests continued their recent high with seven games without defeat and climbed to third place in the table, at least for one day. After the yellow-red card for Derry Murkin (80th), Schalke had to end the game outnumbered.

In the first duel between the two former first division teams in eleven years, Schalke got off to a better start. That paid off in the 30th minute. After a remarkable pass from Blendi Idrizi, young professional Topp was there and successfully completed the attack with a powerful shot from 14 meters. However, further chances to take a higher half-time lead remained unused. That was punished shortly after the restart. Although Hrgota initially failed to lob past Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann, he pushed the rebound over the line.

Schalke’s second lead through Karaman was even shorter. Just four minutes later, Asta put the ball into the net with a well-placed shot. Despite being outnumbered in the final phase after Murkin was sent off, Schalke saved the draw over time.

Paderborn against Rostock interrupted twice after protests

Interim coach Uwe Speidel did not bring Hansa Rostock the turnaround they had hoped for. In his first game on the coaching bench of the second division team, the head of the youth department was unable to avert a 0:3 (0:1) defeat against SC Paderborn. In front of 12,260 spectators on Friday in the game in the Home Deluxe Arena, which was now threatened with cancellation, Adriano Grimaldi (25th minute), Raphael Obermair (67th) and Kai Klefisch (75th) ensured the East Westphalia deserved victory.

This means that the guests, whose goalkeeper Markus Kolke was shown a red card after an emergency stop (63′), remain in third-to-last place in the table. In contrast, Paderborn climbed to sixth place for the time being. Because pyrotechnics were repeatedly used in the stands, the game had to be interrupted for nine minutes in the first half and for 19 minutes in the second half.

Two days before the duel with Paderborn, the Rostock team parted ways with their previous head coach Alois Schwartz after only one point from the last three games. They want to use the upcoming winter break with a new coach to give the right impetus in preparation for the second half of the season.

These impulses also seem to be urgently needed. Paderborn could have taken a clearer lead at half-time, but had to be content with just one goal from Grimaldi. After Obermair’s corner, Grimaldi took advantage of the confusion in Hansa’s defense and shot the ball with great force into the bottom left corner. Only after the long break in the second half did the Paderborn team act more efficiently and overrun the guests with a double strike within eight minutes. Aided by Kolke’s sending off, Obermair made things clear with a shot and Klefisch with a header.

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