53rd minute: There is much more tempo in this second half and Jiri Pavlenka has to stay alert to save from Amine Harit and Max Meyer before denying Franco Di Santo too.
56th minute: Kohfeldt makes his first change, bringing on Aron Jóhannsson for debutant Rashica. The Kosovar tried a lot and had some good touches but could not get in behind the Schalke defence. Hopefully the American Jóhannsson has more luck.
71st minute: Werder have been putting on more pressure since the substitution and now Zlatko Junuzovic is on for Gondorf. Give it your all, Zladdi!
78th minute: Nastasic receives his marching orders for a second yellow card. After he stuck out his leg to trip up Kruse in the first half, he then pulls back Belfodil meaning the hosts are down to 10 men.
79th minute: GOAAAAAAAL! The equaliser! Max Kruse gets it! This goal is also helped by a goalkeeping error; the free-kick from Ludwig Augustinsson is spilled by Fährmann, Jóhannsson is first to the loose ball and his shot is blocked but Max Kruse smashes home the rebound. GET IN!
84th minute: A slice of luck for SVW! Marco Pjaca curls it but it hits the post and Pavlenka clutches the ball gratefully.
88th minute: We’re in for a nail-biting finish! Junuzovic has a chance with a free-kick before Jóhannsson shoots from inside the area but both are blocked. Werder are edging closer to a second goal.
93rd minute: GOAAAAAAAAAAAL! UNBELIEVABLE! Zladdi scores to make it 2-1! Jóhannsson chips the ball to Belfodil whose shot is blocked by Fährmann but Junuzovic, who is running in, slides the ball over the line! SVW win with practically the last kick of the game! Ecstasy in the Werder end!
Summary: SVW played well away from home against Schalke but for a long time, it looked as if it would come to nothing. Mistakes like the one from Pavlenka happen but his teammates couldn’t break down the Schalke defence for long periods in order to get back into the game – until Fährmann made the mistake in the closing stages. In a tough match, Werder earned the win with a brilliant final 15 minutes and three huge points in the fight to stay in the Bundesliga. Next up is the DFB-Pokal quarter-final away at Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday 6th February (KO 20:45 CET).
