Wolfsburg win at Schalke, avoid making history

GELSENKIRCHEN - Edin Dzeko scored twice in the second half for VfL Wolfsburg to give the reigning champions a 2-1 victory at Schalke 04 in a Bundesliga match.

Friday’s victory saw the club from northern Germany avoiding making history by becoming the first reigning champion to lose four games in a row.

The Bosnian striker, who had only scored one goal in the opening five league matches, admitted that it was a special game, playing against the team now coached by Felix Magath, who last year took Wolfsburg to their first-ever title.

“Last season we deserved to be champions under him. That is why I am particularly pleased that we managed to win here,” the 23-year-old said.

Schalke’s goalscorer Benedikt Hoewedes, who was at fault when Dzeko opened the scoring, said he was very disappointed. “It is difficult to find the right words. We were very unlucky.”

In front of a capacity crowd of 61,000 neither side managed to score in the first half although last season’s top scorer Grafite had a golden opportunity for Wolfsburg, but slid past a ball played into the centre by Sascha Riether.

Shortly afterwards Schalke players had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after Wolfsburg captain Josua brought down Rafinha in the area, but the referee waved play on.

Dzeko finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a well-taken header after a Wolfsburg corner.

The home side then threw caution to wind and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Magath bringing on former Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi and Turkish international Halil Altintop.

They were rewarded for their efforts ten minutes from the end when Hoewedes gave goalkeeper Andre Lenz no chance with a header after a corner.

But even before the stadium announcer had finished announcing the name of the scorer, Dzeko restored the visitors’ lead after being set up Makoto Hasebe.

Kuranyi thought he had levelled matters again when his header crashed against the upright and then seemed to cross the line just minutes later, but the referee again waved play on.

The win sees Armin Veh’s side, who on Tuesday won their opening Champions League game against CSKA Moscow 3-1, move to fifth in the table on nine points, while Schalke remain third on ten.

Table-topping SV Hamburg and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen are on 13 points ahead of their games on the weekend.