Schalke edge nine-goal thriller

AFP
Schalke's midfielder Lewis Holtby celebrates on January 18, 2013

Schalke’s midfielder Lewis Holtby celebrates during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 vs Hanover 96 in the German city of Gelsenkirchen on January 18, 2013. Schalke won 5-4.

BERLIN (AFP): Schalke celebrated the resumption of the Bundesliga with a 5-4 win over Hanover on Friday, their first league triumph since November 10.

Schalke moved provisionally into fifth place in the table ahead of the rest of the weekend programme which will see Bayern Munich looking to boost their lead at the top when they face rock-bottom Greuther Fuerth.

Jefferson Farfan gave Schalke the lead just before the interval while eight further goals followed in the second half.

Julian Draxler made it 2-0 four minutes after the break before Sergio Pinto and Szabolcs Huszti drew Hanover level.

Marco Hoger and Cipiran Marica soon restored Schalke’s two-goal lead.

Huszti reduced the deficit to 4-3 before Tottenham-bound Lewis Holtby grabbed Schalke’s fifth, two minutes from the end.

Mame Diouf completed the scoring in stoppage time for Hanover.

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Edited by Staff Editor