Strange Substitution Saga at Schalke Stadium!
Let's cut to the chase.
Schalke's disastrous performance in Düsseldorf culminates in a 3-5 defeat. The second-division club's fans are left shaking their heads in shock at half-time, and a heated situation ensues on the pitch. A professional player even gets into a spat with the coaching staff!
A blown out lead in the 33rd minute! 3-0 for Fortuna!
With the score at 3-0, Schalke coach Karel Geraerts makes a bold move, substituting three players simultaneously: the injured Drexler, along with Tempelmann and Ouwejan. Geraerts looks visibly distressed and initially refuses to shake hands with his counterpart. He then pushes the license manager Asamoah and storms into the dressing room, dragging Polter behind him.
What a substitution debacle!
Fans' frustration boils over, and they abandon their team mid-match. Those who stay shower their discontentment with a hail of toilet paper and small flagpoles in the second half.
What could trigger such desperation?
The first goal comes at the 13th minute when Fortuna's Vermeij heads in to make it 1-0. Klaus follows that up with a poke in for a 2-0 lead at the 20th minute. Vermeij then strikes again, making it 3-0 at the 26th.
Schalke has not conceded three goals this early since a Derby in Dortmund on Nov. 25, 2017, where they trailed 4-0 at half-time but managed to draw 4-4.
Unfortunately, this time the tale doesn't end so happily.
Geraerts, in his 6th match with Schalke, suffers his fourth defeat. Kaminski's 1-3 (57') is too little, too late, as Düsseldorf's Tzolis quickly responds with a 4-1 (65'). Kalas (74) and Lasme (75) try to rally Schalke back, but it's not enough. Niemiec seals Fortuna's victory with a late goal, making it 5-3 (90.+4).
Schalke's downward spiral continues, leaving them in 16th place. In contrast, Düsseldorf's morale soars, taking 3rd place, at least temporarily.
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It's worth noting that the substitution drama isn't the only controversy brewing around Schalke. Recent unrest within the club has risen from the relationship between the sporting director and the head coach in the 2023-2024 season, leading to growing discontent among the fans.
In a separate incident, Schalke's supporters faced severe violence by rival fans in February 2023, adding to the chaotic nature of the team's season.
