Ernst strike sees off Espanyol
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Article summary
FC Schalke 04 2-1 RCD Espanyol Marcelo Bordon and Fabian Ernst scored second-half goals as Schalke recovered after falling behind.
Article body
Marcelo Bordon and Fabian Ernst scored in the second half as FC Schalke 04 recovered from falling behind to defeat injury-hit RCD Espanyol 2-1 in their UEFA Cup Round of 32 first-leg tie at the Arena Aufschalke.
Iraizoz save
Buoyed by scoring seven goals in an eleven-goal thriller against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the weekend, Schalke attempted to take control of the game from the kick-off. Yet despite retaining possession for long periods in the opening quarter-hour, their only clear-cut chance came after nine minutes. Kevin Kuranyi and Lincoln neatly worked an opening for Zlatan Bajramović whose shot from 12 metres was deflected around the post by the diving Gorka Iraizoz in the Espanyol goal.
Neat finish
With Espanyol not showing much verve in attack Kuranyi soon forced another save from Iraizoz, the visiting keeper diving low to his left to turn behind the German striker's diving header from Lincoln's free-kick. But the home crowd were silenced moments later as Eduardo Costa played a long ball down the right between the retreating Mladen Krstajić and Rafinha for Luis García. Running free in the penalty area, the striker held his nerve to run around Frank Rost's outstretched leg and score from the narrowest of angles.
Bordon leveller
Schalke twice came close to equalising as the half reached its conclusion, first through Sebastian Boenisch's volley and then a Lincoln corner that Iriazoz turned on to the post after it had struck Krstajić's shoulder. Despite Espanyol's attempts to disrupt the German side with a succession of fouls, Schalke managed to retain their composure and Bordon equalised after 65 minutes, rising over Walter Pandiani at the far post to head Lincoln's free-kick past Iraizoz.
Ernst winner
Gustavo Varela, Søren Larsen, Christian Poulsen and substitute Ebbe Sand all came close to finding a winning goal for the home side before Ernst did just that three minutes from time as he fired a low left-footed shot from 22 metres through a crowd of advancing players and past the unsighted Iraizoz.
