Hertha BSC Berlin 2 - 2 Schalke 04: Matip rescues point for Schalke

Posted Sunday, March 15, 2015 by PA

Schalke snatched a point in the capital with Joel Matip's last-gasp equaliser earning them a 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin.

Anis Ben-Hatira gave the hosts the lead but debutant Leroy Sane scored an eye-catching equaliser for the Royal Blues.

Genki Haraguchi thought he had won it for the hosts but Matip struck late on to earn Roberto Di Matteo's men a point.

Schalke suffered a setback just before kick-off when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had to pull out injured, meaning Sane took his place to make his starting debut after scoring against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in midweek.

His partnership with Klaas Jan Huntelaar already looked well established with the Dutchman going close to giving the visitors the lead before Hertha struck against the run of play.

Valentin Stocker had too much space to get in a shot which Timon Wellenreuther was unable to hold, and the ball fell out to Ben-Hatira to prod in.

He celebrated his fourth goal of the season by donning a Spiderman mask, earning a yellow card for his over-zealousness.

Sane channelled his efforts into bringing Schalke back on terms, racing through to mark his eighth appearance in the Bundesliga with his first goal, and one he is likely to remember for a while.

The 19-year-old chipped his effort past Thomas Kraft from a tight angle after Huntelaar's deflected back-heel found its way through to him.

Wellenreuther kept Schalke on terms with a good save from Salomon Kalou before the game lost its way slightly.

Haraguchi brought it back to life with his first Bundesliga goal after Wellenreuther once again failed to keep hold of an effort from Stocker and laid the ball on a plate for the Japanese substitute.

Matip wasted two good chances to level in the 83rd and 84th minutes, but his moment was to come in the dying seconds of the game when he headed Christian Fuchs' cross unstoppably into the far corner.