Honours even in the Schalke-Dortmund derby

Goals by Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi and Dortmund’s Mohamed Zidan either side of half-time meant the Ruhr valley derby ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday.

With league leaders Hertha Berlin playing Saturday, this was a chance for the rivals to climb the table, but Kuranyi’s superb early strike for Schalke was cancelled out by Dortmund’s supersub Zidan nine minutes from time.

The result leaves Dortmund in eighth and Schalke ninth in the table before the rest of the weekend’s Bundesliga programme.

Schalke carved out the advantage early on when Kuranyi scored his second goal in consecutive league games with a superb volley.

His forward partner Halil Altintop supplied the cross and Kuranyi hit a fantastic bicycle-style kick on the full volley which gave Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller no chance on 20 minutes.

Kuranyi went close again with another similar effort moments later as the Royal Blues dominated their rivals at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Having walked out on the Germany squad at half-time in last October’s World Cup qualifier against Russia after being left in the stands, Kuranyi’s international career is over.

But his goal, coming after last week’s winner at Bochum, was top class and he was a constant thorn in Dortmund’s side before fading in the second half.

Dortmund’s former Tottenham forward Kevin-Prince Boateng earned himself a first-half yellow card for a heavy challenge after only five minutes and Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp took him off at half-time.

His place was taken by Egyptian striker Zidan and the African squandered a great chance on 76 minutes when Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved his shot.

But the Egyptian made no mistake when he played a one-two with Dortmund striker Nelson Valdez and rifled his shot past the diving Neuer.