Same again for Schalke

By Mark Bennett

FC Schalke 04 secured their place in the UEFA Cup first round by winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the second year in a row after completing a two-legged victory against FC Slovan Liberec.

Ailton winner
Schalke had laid the foundations of victory with a 2-1 win in the Arena AufSchalke two weeks ago and despite being under pressure for much of the second half in tonight's second leg, sealed a 1-0 win on the night - and a 3-1 aggregate triumph - by virtue of an Ailton strike three minutes from time.

Slow start
Schalke began slowly and looked content to keep Liberec away from their own goal with the Czech club failing to come up with anything to trouble the German side's defence until the 20-minute mark, when Petr Papoušek tried his luck with a long-range free-kick but Frank Rost managed to gather the ball.

First chance
The visitors had their first chance five minutes later when Mladen Krstajic picked out Gerald Asamoah, but the German international's header failed to trouble Zbynek Hauzr. Four minutes later Ailton had a sight of goal after a great one-two with Asamoah, but once again Hauzr proved too good.

Resilient Rost
With eleven minutes of the second half played, Papoušek should have given Liberec the lead, but the midfield player's header was palmed away by Rost. The Schalke goalkeeper was called upon again five minutes later after a mistake from Christian Poulsen. The Danish international's weak back-pass put the Schalke No1 under pressure, but he arrived just in time to deny Juraj Ancic.

Opportunities missed
Liberec pushed players forward as time ticked away but the Czech outfit continued to spurn their opportunities. Ancic fired over the bar, Karol Kisel volleyed wide and with only seven minutes left on the clock, Tomáš Zapotocny headed wide with just Rost to beat.

Late goal
Ailton, who moved from Bundesliga champions SV Werder Bremen earlier this summer, was given time and space to gallop forward, take on the remaining Liberec defenders and use his vicious left foot to great effect on 87 minutes, blasting Schalke through to the UEFA Cup. Asamoah promptly paid tribute to his team's goalkeeper when he said: "We lost possession too quickly tonight but Frank Rost was world class today and we must thank him."