FC Schalke 04 3-0 Arminia Bielefeld
Tuesday, 25 September 07, 05:30 PM · Comments(0)
Ho-lee Cow.
I'm not quite sure where to begin with this one. I freely admit that I haven't watched that much football in comparison to those born and raised in countries where the game is supreme, but I don't think I've ever seen a team as completely dominated as Bielefeld was against Schalke on Saturday, except perhaps Germany beating Argentina in this year's Women's World Cup, but that's a different story. In fact, I was so shocked by it that it took me until Tuesday to figure out how to actually write this post.
However, instead of being a negative person and focusing on the three goals let in, the lack of shots on goal, not taking a shot at all after the 43rd minute, allowing 32 shots, or the 12 shots on goal, I'd like to tip my hat to Matthias Hain, who nearly-singlehandedly kept the score at a semi-respectable 3-0.
Man of the Match, Bielefeld-wise, Matthias Hain (Photo courtesy Neue Westfälische / Bielefeldfotos )
Hain made several amazing stops, especially in a stretch of the first half where the match seemed to be reserved for himself and Schalke striker Kevin Kuryani, who despite his 8 shots in the match, only managed a single goal. Often times goalkeepers get dumped on after bad losses by the press, but Hain's performance was commendable. As for the rest of the team? Not quite as commendable, but considering the high-flying start, perhaps it was best to get a good clock-cleaning early in the season to get everyone back to reality as the tougher portion of the schedule looms ahead.
Manager Ernst Middendorp has rightfully put the loss in the rear-view mirror as the midweek match at home against Hannover 96 (For you newcomers, Hannover is the closest 1. Bundesliga club to Bielefeld) on Wednesday. Some of the expected changes to the starting lineup are Thorben Marx and newcomer Siyabonga Nkosi in midfield, as well as a possible appearance by Greek starlet Leonidas Kampantais off the bench, though rumours of him starting were squashed in a press conference today. A win would erase all of the bad taste for this past Saturday, so here's to three more points and a return to the title hunt.
Next match: Wednesday vs. Hannover 96 (Honest! Typo on yours truly's part in last match's post.)
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