Stand: 13.12.2020 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Mark Uth receives first aid in the field
Source: Pool via REUTERS
Striker Mark Uth has to be taken to hospital after a collision, his colleagues lose a 2-1 lead in Augsburg late. The Schalke series with now 27 games without a win continues.
Dhe inclined Schalke fan was already quite frustrated in this third Advent Sunday. For 26 games, his heart club had been waiting for a victory in the Bundesliga, and then immediately before the groundbreaking away game at FC Augsburg came the news that midfield director Amine Harit, who was pardoned during the week, could not participate after a 14-day suspension – Knee injury.
Just a foretaste of an incredibly eventful game day: Because what finally happened in the following game exceeded even the fiercest fears of the miners’ supporters.
After nine minutes the match had to be interrupted because Mark Uth had rushed to the Augsburg international Felix Uduokhai. In a header duel, the skulls of the two opponents clashed unchecked, whereby Uth still had the bad luck of landing on the foot of Augsburg’s Rani Khedira. Apparently, the Schalke had already lost consciousness while falling.
Schalke’s goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann (left) bends over to Mark Uth, who is injured and carried off the field on a stretcher
Source: dpa / Stefan Puchner
Teammates and professionals of the opponent were shocked. Uth still had to be taken care of on the pitch, while colleague Omar Mascarell held up an infusion. Some footballers prayed for the seriously injured man on the field.
Only after ten minutes was the 29-year-old taken away and taken to the hospital. A little later, the club announced that the striker’s condition was stable. With a concussion he stayed in the hospital for one night.
Own goal deficit
Despite the shock, the guests decided to continue the game. Referee Manuel Gräfe had asked for willingness to do so. But from the perspective of the Royal Blues, it didn’t get any better at first.
After 20 more minutes of play, Uduokhai collided again with a Schalke player, this time Nassim Boujellab had to be treated on the head. And while the midfielder was waiting for the resumption on the sidelines with a hastily donned “turban” on his head, the hosts took the lead – through an own goal. Suat Serdar extended a free kick by ex-Schalke Daniel Caligiuri into his own box (32nd).
Just before the first win since January
At that point there was not much to suggest that the bottom of the table would make a comeback. And it could be recognized as a moral feat that Schalke found back on track after the break despite the Uth shock and the unfortunate deficit.
First, after a bad pass from Carlos Gruezo, Benito Raman made it 1-1 with a soulful lob from 15 meters over keeper Rafal Gikiewicz (52nd). And nine minutes later it was unlucky Boujellab, who even took the lead for the starving Royal Blues with his first Bundesliga goal on the basis of Serdar.
Should the first win in the Bundesliga since the end of January actually be achieved, since a 2-0 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach? The hope for the rare sense of achievement was also fired by the fact that the Augsburg attacker Florian Niederlechner had received the yellow-red card between the two Schalke goals.
Uth shock digested, turned the game and then the last half hour of the match in excess – nothing should go wrong.
In fact, Schalke held the tight but well-deserved lead until stoppage time, before another ex-player was involved in the unlucky goal. Substitute Michael Gregoritsch, who was still under contract with the Knappen until the summer, crossed wonderfully to striker Marco Richter, who headed in at 2-2 (90 + 3).
A dramatic finale to an incredible afternoon in Augsburg.
A few hours after the bad collision, Uth gave the all-clear on Sunday evening. “I’m doing pretty well … I’ll probably be released from the hospital tomorrow,” wrote the ex-national player on Instagram next to a photo of himself in the hospital bed. And: “Thank you very much for your numerous recovery wishes.”
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