FC Twente beat Schalke and qualify

Wednesday 03 December 2008

FC Twente has added some ink to Fred Rutten's letter of dismissal as the team of Steve McClaren beat Schalke 04 2-1 and almost certainly knocked the Germans out of the UEFA Cup.

Twente themselves are certain of the third round.

Schalke played their last game in the group and can now only hope that Paris St Germain and Racing Santander do not gain any points in their last games.

That it had to be his former employer where Rutten got what could be be his last push towards getting sacked will be extra sour for the coach who was so successful at Twente.

FC Twente had a dream start in the packed Grolsch Veste.

After only three minutes skipper Robbie Wielaert opened the score when he tapped in a rebound from a Blaise N'Kufo shot.

Wielaert was offside by a mile when N'Kufo hit his shot but the Turkish referee did not notice as there was a lot they didn't notice throughout the game.

A first half then emerged in which the two teams were each others equals, but after the early set back the German team grew into the game and they were clearly on top at the end of the first half.

Rutten's team had two good chances, but were unfortunate when Heiko Westermann hit the post.

Coach Steve McClaren fielded a forward line of Eljero Elia, Blaise N'Kufo and Marko Arnautovic with Kenneth Perez on 10 behind them and it was the Dane who doubled the score for the home team ten minutes after the break.

In the center he received the ball from the left turned away from his opponent to curl in a beautifully placed shot in the right lower corner with his right foot from some 20 meters out.

The 2-0 score was very harsh on the visitors though who were by no means any less than Twente.

What's more: after the break Schalke had taken full control of the game, hardly allowing Twente any possession.

Yet the German supremacy also revealed just what Schalke's problem's are this season: they lack a decent goal scorer.

Center forward Kevin Kuranyi has never been the man who gives you 25 goals per season and tonight he again showed why that is as he often chose the wrong position, closing himself down.

Most danger in front of midfield was created by the defender Westerman and midfielders Ernst and Asamoah and it was the latter who got Schalke back into the game fifteen minutes from time.

In the remaining minutes the Germans went looking for the equalizer full force, but despite several hectic situation in front of the Twente goal the score didn't change.