Schalke fought hard to secure a 1:1 draw against Fortuna Düsseldorf after a promising win against Paderborn. Despite dominating the match and creating numerous chances, they fell behind in the 62nd minute due to a goal from Dawid Kownacki. Schalke equalized shortly after when Moussa Sylla scored in the 71st minute. Despite several opportunities to claim victory, including a shot that hit the crossbar, the match ended in a stalemate. Schalke’s next match is against Elversberg on December 20.
Schalke’s Hard-Fought Draw Against Fortuna Düsseldorf
Schalke was close to securing a victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf following their impressive win in Paderborn. The match ended in a 1:1 draw, with the attacking Königsblauen failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities against Fortuna’s goalkeeper, Florian Kastenmeier. After Dawid Kownacki put Düsseldorf ahead in the 62nd minute, Schalke managed to equalize thanks to a goal from Moussa Sylla in the 71st minute, a result they certainly earned.
Schalke’s Determined Start and Missed Opportunities
Following their stunning 4:2 away victory against league leaders SC Paderborn, Schalke’s director of professional football, Youri Mulder, urged the team to “become more stable” and build on their momentum against another strong opponent in Fortuna Düsseldorf.
From the opening whistle, Schalke displayed an aggressive approach, with Kenan Karaman and his teammates quickly pushing the action against their Rhine rivals. An electrifying atmosphere filled the stadium, with 60,000 fans, including approximately 6,000 from Düsseldorf, witnessing a Schalke side that created numerous scoring chances but failed to convert them.
In the 3rd minute, captain Karaman’s long-range shot forced Kastenmeier into a fantastic save. The Fortuna goalkeeper’s strong performance was crucial, as Schalke continued to generate opportunities. Just five minutes in, Moussa Sylla missed a great header, and in the 18th minute, Mehmet Aydin squandered a chance by shooting a rebound directly into Kastenmeier’s grasp. Almost half an hour into the match, Christopher Antwi-Adjei also failed to find the net against the alert Düsseldorf keeper.
Amidst Schalke’s offensive pressure, the unexpected happened when a shot from Myron van Brederode was ruled out for offside after Kownacki’s cross found the back of the net. In the 33rd minute, Schalke had a golden opportunity when Sylla was perfectly positioned six meters from goal, but he uncharacteristically shot straight at Kastenmeier.
Despite Schalke’s dominance, they went into halftime with a scoreless draw, which was fortunate for Düsseldorf. The situation took a turn in the 62nd minute when a long pass from Düsseldorf’s defender Tim Oberdorf caught Schalke off guard. Kownacki found space behind Schalke’s defense and scored from 15 meters, putting Düsseldorf ahead 0:1.
This unexpected goal sent shockwaves through Schalke, as they appeared rattled and frustrated. However, in a twist of fate during this challenging phase, Schalke equalized when Antwi-Adjei delivered a precise cross from the left that Sylla expertly converted with a powerful header, making it 1:1 in the 71st minute.
With coach Kees van Wonderen urging them on, Schalke pressed for a winning goal. In the 80th minute, Sylla had a promising chance from the edge of the box, curling a shot toward the left corner. Unfortunately, the ball struck the crossbar before rebounding into Kastenmeier’s arms.
The match concluded with the score still tied at 1:1, even as stoppage time approached. Schalke missed one final clear chance when Ron Schallenberg found himself eight meters from goal after a left-wing cross, but once more, Kastenmeier proved his worth by diving to deny the shot.
Looking ahead, Schalke will face Elversberg on December 20 at 6:30 PM, while Düsseldorf will host 1. FC Magdeburg.