kobiashvili feat delights schalke published: thursday 24 november 2005, 0.50cet
fc schalke 04 3-0 psv eindhoven
schalke kept their hopes of reaching the next round alive thanks to a levan kobiashvili hat-trick.
by mark bennett from arena aufschalke
fc schalke 04 kept alive their hopes of reaching the uefa champions league knockout rounds thanks to a rare hat-trick from levan kobiashvili. penalty double the georgian international, who had not scored this season, took time to adapt to his new role on the left wing but was inspirational in an important group e win. kobiashvili claimed his first from the penalty spot on 18 minutes, before sealing victory for the home side with his second on 72 minutes. he then completed his hat-trick seven minutes later, converting from the penalty spot.
attacking lineups both coaches fielded 4-3-3 formations with schalke looking to gustavo varela and kobiashvili, both more at home in midfield, to push forward down the wings and deliver crosses for kevin kuranyi, whereas guus hiddink opted for jefferson farfán and ismaïl aissati on the flanks and robert down the middle.
slow start despite the attacking lineups neither team managed to gain the upper hand early on, with most of the action taking place in midfield. psv did, however, look the more comfortable side without creating any real danger, whereas schalke often resorted to the long ball with little reward.
kobiashvili cool the first serious attack led to schalke being awarded a penalty in the 18th minute. hamit altıntop exchanged passes with varela and the uruguayan international found himself in space on the right wing. his cross was handled by andré ooijer, leaving referee Ľuboš micheľ no option but to point to the spot. kobiashvili let heurelho gomes dive to his left and drilled his kick down the centre.
rost reactions psv looked unfazed by the setback and came close to an equaliser six minutes later. first frank rost was forced into action by alex after the schalke defence had failed to deal with a corner, and only seconds later robert made space on the edge of the area but once again rost came to his team's rescue with a sharp stop.
woodwork rattled schalke started to dominate the latter stages of the half, and could have gone two up six minutes from the break. kuranyi released lincoln with a perfectly-timed pass but the brazilian midfielder's effort from the edge of the box crashed against the base of the right-hand post.
double change with psv lacking firepower, hiddink decided to make a change up front at half-time with towering target man jan vennegoor of hesselink replacing aissati. belgian international timmy simons also left the field with the resolute theo lucius employed to add grit to the visitors' midfield.
cocu header the bundesliga outfit were defending deep and concentrating on protecting their lead, psv enjoyed vast amounts of possession and phillip cocu had a good chance to equalise midway through the second period. michael reiziger broke down the right and sent in a perfect cross but the skipper saw his diving header saved by rost.
lincoln magic schalke's answer on 72 minutes was swift and decisive. lincoln lifted a sublime left-footed chip from the edge of the box that gomes could only touch on to the crossbar, and kobiashvili pounced on the rebound to claim his second goal.
kobiashvili hat-trick seven minutes later kobiashvili put the match completely out of psv's reach. fabian ernst was brought down by gerald sibon, who had replaced reiziger only seconds before, and the georgian international converted calmly from the spot again.
