2024-09-21 00:11:30
Shortly before half-time, Schalke’s world was in order. The traditional club was leading 3-0 against Darmstadt. But then a unique turnaround followed.
FC Schalke 04 embarrassed themselves in front of their home crowd in the 2nd Bundesliga. The Royal Blues lost 3-5 against Darmstadt 98 after leading 3-0. Schalke collapsed completely in the second half in front of a sold-out crowd. It was to be the last game for coach Karel Geraerts. The Belgian was already on the ropes before the game.
In the parallel match on Friday evening, SC Paderborn beat Hannover 96 2-1. The decisive winning goal was scored by U21 national striker Ilyas Ansah in the final phase (78th minute).
Tobias Mohr, who was actually dropped in the summer, gave the hosts an early lead with a direct free kick (14th minute). New signing Moussa Sylla with his fourth goal of the season (34th minute) and Ron Schallenberg (38th minute) increased the lead to 3-0 before half-time, even though the floodlights had gone out in the meantime.
Fraser Hornby reduced the deficit in stoppage time of the first half with a handball penalty after video evidence (45th+5). When it got dark again, Isac Lidberg (56th) scored to make it 2:3. The Swede turned the game around in the final phase with two more goals after major defensive errors (76th and 87th). Sergio Lopez also scored in stoppage time (90th+7) and Schalke fell apart.
Darmstadt celebrated its first win of the season with a spectacular comeback under coach Florian Kohfeldt, the successor to Torsten Lieberknecht, who resigned just three weeks ago. For coach Karel Geraerts, it was probably the last game on the bench of the Royal Blues.
The Belgian had fallen out with squad planner Ben Manga. Before the game, local media had already reported that it was a “final” for Geraerts.
SC Paderborn remains unbeaten. The East Westphalians beat Hannover 96 2-1 (1-1) and remain on the heels of the top duo in the table. For the ambitious Lower Saxony team, however, it was the second away defeat in a row.
Koen Kostons gave the hosts an early lead (9th minute). But the visitors then took control and equalized ten minutes later. Paderborn’s Kostons unfortunately deflected a cross from Bartlomiej Wdowik into his own goal.
After the break, Hannover were the better team and had good chances to take the lead through Hyun-Ju Lee, who only hit the post, and Nicolo Tresoldi with a header. But as is often the case away from home, the 96ers were not rewarded for a decent performance. Instead, Ilyas Ansah scored the somewhat lucky winner for the hosts in the 77th minute.