Düsseldorf grab vital victory over FC Schalke

Two goals in five minutes helped Uwe Rosler pick up his first home win as Fortuna Düsseldorf manager.

It was a quiet first half at the Merkur Spiel arena. The pick of the chances came when Daniel Caliguiri’s shot forced a great save out of Fortuna’s keeper, Florian Kastenmeier.

Just eight minutes after the break and it was the visitors who took the lead. Weston McKennie was unmarked at a set piece, drove into the box and headed the ball into the net.

But ten minutes later and Fortuna were back on level terms. Schalke keeper Markus Schubert parried Kevin Stoger’s free kick into the path of Rouwen Hemmings who headed it into the net. This was his fourth goal this season against Die Knappen.

Then just five minutes after the equaliser and the home side turned it around, once again from a set piece. A short corner fell to Kaan Ayhan, who headed it across to Kenan Karaman who nodded it in from close range.

Both sides had chances late on. On-loan Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny produced a goal line clearance, which prevented Düsseldorf getting a third, while Schalke won a free kick in the 94th minute, however a poor delivery saw it come to nothing.

It was a vital victory for Rosler’s men, their first win in five games moves them just one point behind Mainz and just two points behind Eintracht Frankfurt. They are looking a good fit for a third straight season in the Bundesliga,

It proved to be another dismal performance for Schalke in 2020. They are now winless in 11 games, and have now dropped to ninth in the table, five points off Wolfsburg in sixth.

McKennie’s goal for Schalke was only their fifth goal this calendar year, and they have now conceded 25 goals in the last 11 games. The pressure is seriously growing on their boss, David Wagner, after what was a promising start to the season.