Teenager Julian Draxler scored in the last minute of extra-time to help Schalke beat Nuremburg 3-2 in the DFB Pokal Cup on Tuesday.
With the teams level at 2-2 and the quarter-final tie heading for penalties, 17-year-old substitute Draxler – on the pitch for just three minutes – struck his first goal for the club from outside the area to tear the roof off the Veltins-Arena.
Striker Julian Schieber put visitors Nuremburg ahead in the fourth minute of the match, but Schalke were level 10 minutes later through Mario Gavranovic.
Fullback Christian Pander, played in by Raul’s through-ball following a swift counter-attack, was able to deliver directly to the feet of Gavranovic.
The Swiss forward struck first time to beat Nuremburg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer and restore parity.
Raul had a goal chalked off before Schieber struck again, meeting a cross from strike partner Christian Eigler to restore the visitors’ advantage in the 32nd minute.
This time it took until just before the hour mark for Schalke to draw level, with Raul involved again.
The former Real Madrid captain set up Ivan Rakitic with a back-heel and the Croatian midfielder delivered a superb strike from the edge of the box to level the scores for the second time.
With Schalke pressing but unable to find the winner in regulation, the introduction of Draxler – making just his second appearance for the first team – proved a masterstroke from coach Felix Magath.
“You dream about such an experience your whole life,” Draxler said after his dramatic intervention.
“The coach told me we had to do something.”
And do something he did, smashing home the winning goal with seconds left to put Schalke into the semi-finals.
In Wednesday’s quarter-finals, Energie Cottbus host Hoffenheim, MSV Duisburg are at home to Kaiserslautern and holders Bayern Munich travel to Alemannia Aachen.
Wed 26 January, 2011
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