2. Bundesliga: Last-gasp Pichler goal rescues point for Hannover and breaks Schalke hearts | OneFootball

First-half goals from Edin Džeko and Kenan Karaman had Schalke firmly in control at the break, but a second-half red card for Džeko shifted the momentum, allowing Hannover to fight back and snatch a stoppage-time equaliser through Benedikt Pichler in the 98th minute.

The opening exchanges underlined why Schalke sit top of the table, as the hosts quickly imposed themselves on the contest. Džeko came close twice inside the first 15 minutes, but Nahuel Noll stood firm to keep the Bosnian at bay.

However, Noll could do nothing to deny him in the 29th minute. Timo Becker released Karaman down the left flank, and the captain’s low cross into the area found Džeko, who finished first time to give Schalke a deserved lead and continue his remarkable streak of scoring in every home appearance since joining the club.

Schalke doubled their advantage less than ten minutes later. A slick move ended with Soufiane El-Faouzi delivering a pinpoint cross into the area, where Karaman rose highest to power a header past Noll and send the hosts into the interval 2-0 up.

Yet Schalke’s comfortable position unravelled shortly after the restart. Džeko was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Husseyn Chakroun, leaving Miron Muslic’s side to navigate the remainder of the match with ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Schalke appeared to be managing the game well and looked on course for victory until late drama unfolded. With ten minutes remaining, Nikola Katić brought down Noel Aseko Nkili inside the penalty area. Hannover were handed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit, but Lorius Karius produced a superb save to deny Enzo Leopold from the spot.

The reprieve was short-lived. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed against the crossbar before Maik Nawrocki reacted quickest at the back post to bundle the ball home to make it 2-1 and set up a nervy finale.

As the seven minutes of added time ticked away, Schalke looked set to hold on. But in the eighth minute of stoppage time, with the home crowd pleading for the final whistle, Mustapha Bundu delivered a deep cross that evaded everyone and was misjudged by Karius, allowing substitute Pichler to nod into an empty net and rescue a dramatic point for Hannover.

The result means Schalke fail to capitalise on their rivals dropping points this weekend, though they remain top of the table, two points clear in first place. Hannover, meanwhile, stay fifth but close the gap to third place to just two points.