Hoffenheim have Schalke feeling the blues after win

(GSM) – Hoffenheim extended their winning run to three games from three rounds of Bundesliga matches when they ran out deserved 2-0 victors over struggling big-spenders Schalke 04.

Centre-half Isaac Vorsah put the hosts ahead late in the first half at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena as Schalke 04 failed to come up with any tangible response.

And Jermaine Jones’ free kick poured more misery on the visitors when it hit the post and went in off Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the final minutes of the match.

Hosts were the first to threaten when striker Vedad Ibisevic carved out a chance in the sixth minutes, making a clever run and breaching the defence only to be tracked down by Christoph Metzelder who cleared well.

Die Königsblauen responded with a chance of their own when Edu crossed for Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who could only slice his effort.

But Ibisevic continued to be a thorn in the visitors’ side and forced a save from Neuer before knocking the rebound just wide.

Eight minutes before the break the deadlock was broken. Andreas Beck’s corner found Vorsah perfectly and he was able to rise and head home.

Ibisevic missed an opportunity to extend the lead after 58 minutes when he fired wide and two minutes later Huntelaar’s powerful header was well saved by Tom Starke.

It was Hoffenheim, rather than the trailing visitors, who were pressing on goal. Boris Vukcevic took on two defenders and tried his luck only for his shot to hit the side-netting.

Metzelder had a chance in the last minute but was denied smartly by Starke and that proved to be Schalke 04’s last hurrah.

Three minutes into injury time Jones took a free-kick from right on the edge of the box. He beat the wall and saw his bending shot hit the right post, only for Neuer to react slowly and allow the ball to bounce off him and into the net to compound a miserable evening for Felix Magath’s men.