Schalke suffer Mainz setback
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Article summary
FC Schalke 04 dropped to second in the Bundesliga after a five-match winning run ended at 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Article body
By Mark Bennett
1. FSV Mainz 05 underlined their reputation as giant-killers as they defeated FC Schalke 04 to dent their opponent's title hopes and leave FC Bayern München top of the Bundesliga.
Gerber strikes early
Although Mainz lie in the bottom half of the table, both Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Werder Bremen have left the Bruchwegstadion empty handed this season and Schalke followed suit after conceding a goal inside the first 30 seconds. Fabian Gerber put the home side on course for a 2-1 win after ghosting in behind the slumbering Schalke defence.
Thurk winner
Although far from impressive, Schalke went into the game on the back of a five-match winning run and demonstrated why as they resotred parity midway through the second half, Lincoln clinically converting from the penalty spot after Niels Oude-Kamphuis had been brought down. But with eleven minutes remaining, Michael Thurk struck to restore the home team's advantage and leave Schalke trailing leaders Bayern on goal difference.
Stuttgart success
Elsewhere on Sunday, VfB Stuttgart kept their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League alive with a 1-0 win against SC Freiburg. Former Liverpool FC defender Markus Babbel scored the only goal of the game on 20 minutes to lift Stuttgart back into third and leave Freiburg rooted to the foot of the table.
