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Troubled Kuranyi leads Schalke on cruise past PSG

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 23 Oct 2008

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Troubled German international Kevin Kuranyi inspired Schalke 04 to an easy 3-1 UEFA Cup victory over Paris Saint Germain here Thursday.

The striker, kicked off the national team for walking out on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad after a recent World Cup qualifier, scored one and set up another as Schalke ruthlessly put their visitors to the sword.

PSG fielded a young, unfamiliar line-up minus such old hands as Claude Makelele for this Group A test, and in the 13th minute their inexperience was punished.

A speculative Jefferson Farfan cross from the left was diverted into his own net by Larrys Mabiala, after he slid in front of keeper Mickael Landreau, who was in a better position to deal with it.

The visitors were nearly two down on the 33rd minute when the lively Farfan breezed into the box looking to get a toe onto the end of a cross, but a lunging Loris Arnaud tackle cleared.

PSG should have equalised on 37 minutes when Mateja Kezman was through on goal but he dragged his shot wide, in what was a costly mistake.

Schalke immediately went forward with Farfan's probing run down the left flank. The Peru international then cut a short pass to Kuranyi who sent a blistering shot into Landreau's top left-hand corner.

Schalke, sixth in the German league, controlled proceedings at the start of the second period, stroking the ball around but with precious little urgency.

They were almost made to pay 10 minutes in when Arnaud found Kezman in space just inside the box, but the former Chelsea man should have done better than the limp effort he directed at Manuel Neuer.

There were no such problems at the other end as Halil Altintop who added Schalke's third on 69 minutes.

A neat one-two in the box with Kuranyi gave the Turkish international acres of space and time to blast the ball into the net, burying any French hopes of a comeback.

A goal for PSG's Clement Chantome two minutes into injury time was too little too late, and coach Paul le Guen will have a lot to think about on the journey home.

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