When Marius Bülter sunk the penalty after video evidence in injury time, there was no stopping him. All Schalke stormed onto the pitch after the latest goal in Bundesliga history and celebrated the last-minute win with the fans. The 3: 2 (1: 0) at the European Cup candidate FSV Mainz 05 saw the royal blues jump to 14th place at least for one night.
Bülter (26th, 90th + 12th, penalty kick) and Tom Krauss (60th) scored the deserved victory, but the fear continues. The competition can fight back on Saturday, and coach Thomas Reis’ team has a tough remaining program with away games at FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. The goals from Leandro Barreiro (53rd) and Aaron Martin (70th) were not enough for Mainz’s European ambitions.
“It’s crazy to win in added time for the second time in a row and it’s extremely important for us,” said Bülter after the end of the game. The generally weak Mainz quarreled with the decision shortly before the final whistle. “It’s very brave of him to make the decision in the relegation battle,” said FSV sports director Martin Schmidt about referee Matthias Jöllenbeck’s penalty call: “Schalke’s irrepressible will decided,” he admitted.
Bülter dances out defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen
Closing the deficit against Werder Bremen (2-1) in the previous week “released new strength”, emphasized Reis, who trusted Sepp van den Berg and Cedric Brunner as fresh defenses in the starting XI. And that’s how the miners started, Schalke made a much better impression before the break. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow was challenged once against Karim Onisiwo from Mainz (20th), but otherwise Schalke hardly allowed the FSV, which had been in such good form recently, to develop with fight, will and passion. Instead, Schalke caused danger and the reward followed. Bülter outdid defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen with several step-overs, pushed the ball into the goal and caused a burst of joy among the ten thousand S04 supporters in Mainz. A second goal would not have been undeserved, but Kenan Karaman only hit the post (35th).
Schalke also got off to a better start in the second half, but Bülter (51st) missed a great chance against FSV keeper Robin Zentner. That took revenge: Mainz, who lost in Wolfsburg (0:3) for the first time in ten games, hit back after a corner by Barreiro. Dominik Kohr (56th) even had the quick turn on his foot.
With great morale, Schalke defended themselves against the Mainz urge phase. Whipped on by the fans, it was Krauss who brought Schalke back into the lead out of nowhere. Martin, however, flicked a free kick into the goal to equalize again. A dramatic final phase began. Schalke continued to play boldly, but substitute Sebastian Polter missed from close range (83′), and Bülter also failed at Zentner (90’+7′). Then he redeemed the royal blue with a penalty.