schalke keep up with jones strike published: thursday 4 october 2007, 0.20cet
rosenborg bk 0-2 fc schalke 04 jermaine jones and kevin kuranyi were on target in trondheim as the bundesliga club got back on track in group b.
by pål vikesland from lerkendal stadium
second-half strikes from jermaine jones and kevin kuranyi enabled fc schalke 04 to open their account in uefa champions league group b and bring rosenborg bk back to earth after their matchday 1 draw at chelsea fc.
decisive goals jones made the breakthrough for a schalke side bidding to respond to defeat in their first game, at home to valencia cf, as he pierced the norwegian champions' defence and finished calmly. and at the conclusion of an end-to-end contest, kuranyi broke clear on 89 minutes to score with a fine curling effort.
schalke initiative there had been a tense start at lerkendal where the bundesliga club began the brighter. schalke put the trondheim team under immediate pressure, winning four corners. schalke went closest on six minutes, but kuranyi's close-range header flew over the bar. rosenborg got their first glimpse of goal moments later and it was a good one.
goalkeeping heroics steffen iversen put heiko westermann under pressure and the schalke defender almost nodded into his own net. happily for the visitors, goalkeeper manuel neuer somehow managed to push the ball against the post. the gelsenkirchen side's reply was instant: roar strand slipped, leaving kuranyi one-on-one with rosenborg keeper lars hirschfeld, who had to be at his best to keep out the striker's shot.
near misses after a period where neither team was able to create much, the match burst into life again on 24 minutes. jones had looked sharp to this point and only a last-ditch clearance from christer basma prevented the schalke midfielder from running clear on hirschfeld's goal. abdou razack traoré then threatened for rosenborg yet his attempt flew over the woodwork from a difficult angle. schalke followed suit with another effort. kuranyi found himself in a good position in rosenborg's area but his volley flew just wide, thus ensuring a half of many chances ended goalless.
attacking exchange it was schalke who carried the main menace in the initial minutes of the second period. ivan rakitić almost registered for mirko slomka's men on 47 minutes, being centimetres away from getting a toe to kuranyi's pass into the box. once again rosenborg responded quickly: iversen heading wide from a per ciljan skjelbred cross a few minutes later. the tie was still tight and, after an early flurry of opportunities, both sides tightened up in defence.
points sealed gradually schalke began to control the midfield with fabian ernst dictating. then, on 62 minutes, the deadlock was broken. jones found himself through on hirschfeld inside the area and he made no mistake, slipping his shot between the goalkeeper's legs after rakitić's chip over the defence. rosenborg pressed forward in search of the equaliser with substitute yssouf koné going close. schalke, marshalled by captain marcelo bordon, stood firm before kuranyi broke away late on and curled in the second goal from 20 metres. schalke's night was complete.
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