Stunning Schalke rally sees off Mainz
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Shanghai Daily, August 22, 2011
Schalke 04 scored four times in the last 35 minutes to come from 0-2 behind and win 4-2 at Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga yesterday.
Mainz, which won its first two games, was on course for another victory when Austrian Andreas Ivanschitz and Colombian Elkin Soto put it 2-0 up after only 12 minutes.
Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar followed up last week's hat-trick against Cologne by scoring for Schalke in the 57th minute and Benedikt Hoewedes headed the equalizer seven minutes later.
Joel Matip and Christian Fuchs completed the fightback for Schalke with two goals in the last 10 minutes.
Hanover 96, also with two opening wins, was at home to Hertha Berlin in yesterday's other game.
In France, Benoit Pedretti opened his account for new club Lille in a 2-1 win at Caen in Ligue 1 on Saturday while Olympique Lyon drew 1-1 for the second weekend in a row.
Traded strikes
Defending champion Lille took its first three points of the fledgling campaign when the former Auxerre midfielder converted Eden Hazard's cross on 68 minutes before teammate Mathieu Debuchy and Caen's Benjamin Nivet traded strikes late on.
Rudi Garcia's men dominated the encounter against a team which had won its first two matches and deserved its victory as it quickly recovered from last Sunday's surprise loss at home to Montpellier.
Lyon drew 1-1 with promoted Ajaccio last weekend and could do no better at Stade Brest where the hosts took the lead through Benoit Lesoimier after 12 minutes.
Sidy Kone was shown a straight red card for a nasty tackle on the hour to reduce Lyon to 10 men but striker Bafetimbi Gomis grabbed a point nine minutes later when he superbly controlled, turned and shot.
Nice was pegged back late on to be held 1-1 by early pacesetter Toulouse in an action-packed game and inconsistent Girondins Bordeaux also drew 1-1 with Auxerre. Promoted Dijon outclassed Lorient 2-0 despite playing the second half with a man fewer and Ajaccio drew 1-1 with fellow newcomer Evian.
