Schalke stroll into final

FC Schalke 04 remain on course for victory in the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the second year running after comfortably negotiating their semi-final tie with Esbjerg fB in front of a crowd of 56,320.

Free-scoring Schalke
A 3-1 win last week in Denmark had given Schalke control of the tie, and while they had to come from behind in the first leg, the holders never looked like relinquishing control tonight as they took their goal tally in their four-match campaign so far to 13.

Hanke fills in
Schalke had received a late blow before the game when they learned that striker Ebbe Sand was ill with viral meningitis, and Mike Hanke filled in. Danish international Christian Poulsen replaced Christian Pander at right-back in their only other change. EfB brought in Søren Barslund for Jerry Lucena in midfield.

Opening goal
The home side were dominant from the kick-off, and it was no surprise when they took the lead on eleven minutes. Hamit Altintop's corner was passed to Mladen Krstajic, whose cross found the head of Hanke eight metres out and the German Under-21 international made no mistake.  Fredrik Berglund nearly snatched a quick equaliser, but after beating the Schalke offside trap home goalkeeper Frank Rost was alert to narrow the angle, preventing a shot.

Alintrop scores
On 20 minutes, Alintrop shot wide from distance and Schalke continued to have the better of the play. Their lead on the night remained 1-0 at the break, but it took only nine minutes from the interval for them to increase that advantage as Tomasz Waldoch found Alintrop, and the Turkish midfield player sent a powerful shot inside the post.

Asamoah strike
Gerald Asamoah claimed the third Schalke goal in the 63rd minute, finishing confidently after EfB goalkeeper Lars Winde pushed away Ailton's effort. With 17 minutes left EfB had their best chance when Rost could only divert Jacob Poulsen's shot into the path of Berglund, but the Swedish striker shot wide.

Final tie
Ailton twice came close to claiming his third goal of the competition in the closing minutes, but Schalke's progress to the final was long assured. They now meet either FC Slovan Liberec or FC Nantes Atlantique for a place in the UEFA Cup first round, with the opening leg at the Arena AufSchalke next Tuesday. Liberec take a 1-0 lead to Nantes on Wednesday, when all the remaining semi-finals will conclude.