Schahin brace stops Schalke

Joel Matip, Schalke 04

Schalke 04 and Fortuna Düsseldorf played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in front of a 54 000 capacity crowd at the Esprit Arena on Friday night in a Bundesliga match. Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar and Joel Matip had given Schalke 2-0 lead at half time until the home side came out a different team in the second half through the inspiration of Dani Schahin’s two goals.

The home side had an early chance in the fifth minute when Tobias Levels’ cross into the box was met by Dani Schahin with a headerbut his effort from the centre of the box was close but missed to the left.

But it was Schalke who took the lead in the 13th minute when Huntelaar’s left footed shot from outside the box went to the top right corner to make it 1-0.

The away side doubled their lead in the 20th minute when following a set piece situation a cross from Christian Fuchs was headed home by defender Joel Matip from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

Five minutes later Hunterlaar should have doubled his match tally when Tranquillo Barnetta crossed into the box from a corner and the Dutch international striker could only head from the centre of the box wide to the left side of the goal.

On the stroke of half time in the 45th minute, Schalke nearly made it 3-0 when Ibrahim Afellay’s left footed shot from outside the box missed to the right of goal.

Three minutes into the second stanza Fortuna found the goal they had been seeking to please their home fans when Andrey Voronin’s corner kick cross was powered home by Schahin’s right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

Fortuna got the equaliser when Schahin completed his brace in the 77th minute. Tobias Levels charged down the right wing and sent in a cross which Schahin headed from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.