In the last match of the year, FC Schalke almost disgraced itself. The Bundesliga club played 2:2 at the third league team VfL Osnabrück in the end.
FC Schalke ended the football year with a 2:2 (1:1) in a test match at third division team VfL Osnabrück.
12,524 spectators created a great atmosphere in the stadium at Bremer Brücke two days before Christmas Eve. Among them were about 1,500 supporters of the Knappen.
Schalke coach Thomas Reis was still without the long-term injured Rodrigo Zalazar and Leo Greiml. Thomas Ouwejan and Sepp van den Berg also need more time. Also missing were Justin Heekeren, Tobias Mohr, Jordan Larsson and Kenan Karaman, who were ill, and Alex Kral due to back problems. Newcomer Niklas Tauer had made the trip to Osnabrück, but was not yet part of the squad.
Therefore, Reis again took five U23 players with him to Lower Saxony. Soichiro Kozuki, who has the prospect of a professional contract, played from the start. Verthomy Boboy, Andreas Ivan, Joey Müller and Daniel Kankam Kyerewaa were initially on the bench.
Kozuki convinces again
And Kozuki, who took the part on the right wing in the 4-3-3 system, could again attract attention. After a good quarter of an hour, he outdanced his opponent and gave Schalke an early lead with a well-placed low shot into the left corner (16th). His third goal in the third test match.
But the tenth-placed team in the 3rd division, coached by Tobias Schweinsteiger, was not at all shocked and equalised seven minutes later through Paterson Chato. The VfL striker had a free header in the middle of the goal. Ralf Fährmann let it go and Chato dusted it off. The S04 came through Marius Bülter (26.) and Simon Terodde (38.) until the break twice dangerously in front of the goal.
Cisse equalises just before the end
After the change, Osnabrück continued where they had left off. In the 47th minute, Cédric Brunner fouled Ba-Muaka Simakala in the penalty area, who scored the penalty kick to give the hosts the lead. Afterwards, Schalke pressed for the equaliser at times, but only had one good opportunity through Sebastian Polter (71st). Shortly before the end, Ibrahima Cissé scored the equaliser (86th).
Now it’s time for the players to go on Christmas holiday. On 2 January, the team will meet again for the departure to the training camp in Belek. Two more test matches against FC Zurich (7.1.) and 1. FC Nürnberg (10.1.) are scheduled in Turkey. One week before the start of the mission to stay in the league, the dress rehearsal against Werder Bremen will take place in the Veltins Arena.