An unchallenged 5-0 win in Aue sees FC Schalke 04 leapfrog back into the promotion places thanks to an outstanding debut from new signing Vindheim.
After the 2-2 draw with St. Pauli, Aue, for whom coach Pavel Dotchev had brought on Majetschak for the injured Carlson, started solidly at first. The Saxons were compact and made the game difficult for the visitors and tried to create danger by switching the ball around. The Violets had their first good chance of the game in the 14th minute when Owusu failed to beat Fraisl.
Schalke, who had started with Pieringer for Churlinov and newcomer Vindheim for Ranftl compared to the 1-1 draw against Kiel, had a clear advantage in possession but struggled to capitalise. After just under 20 minutes, Terodde finally scored the Knappen’s first dangerous goal (18th minute).
Schalker double strike just before the break
However, the Königsblauen gradually succeeded in increasing the pressure on the home team. Ten minutes after the first noteworthy goal, it was Terodde again who missed the biggest chance so far when Männel made a great save (28.). A little later, however, the Veilchen were unable to defend the second-league record scorer and found themselves trailing 0:1 after some billiards in their own five-metre area (36.). Immediately afterwards, the second goal of the Schalkers followed after Terodde had served the starting Vindheim wonderfully in the course of a beautiful counterattack (38.).
The fact that the Knappen did not score a third goal before half-time was due to another missed chance by Idrizi (45.+3), as well as a rightly disallowed penalty kick, which the referee Arne Aarnink initially gave incorrectly at the end of normal time, but then corrected his decision after viewing the TV pictures.
Eiskalte Knappen mit schnellen Vorentscheidung
Shortly after the break, the visitors added to their tally through substitute Latza (51st), who then added the final goal just over ten minutes later against a home side that was already showing signs of slowing down (63rd).
As a result, the Veilchen’s defence gave up at times, which meant that the away team repeatedly had good opportunities despite a drop in tempo. Substitute Bülter initially missed the biggest of these chances (70th), before Pieringer scored shortly afterwards to make it 5-0 (72nd). In the final quarter of an hour, both teams finally took it easy. Only a goal by substitute Nazarov almost gave the Saxons a consolation goal. However, the Azerbaijani missed his acrobatic attempt (83rd).
The Knappen thus jump to fourth place in the table thanks to their better goal difference compared to HSV and are one point behind the third-placed Bremen side.
Aue will now have to come to terms with the drop-out as quickly as possible in order to make up the missing five points to the save shore in the remainder of the season. The Erzgebirgler have their next opportunity on 5 February at direct rivals Sandhausen (Saturday, 13.30). At the same time, Schalke await Regensburg, who should also still have hopes of getting into the promotion race.
