FOOTBALL NEWS FROM Europa League
Fuchs fires brace for Schalke
Tweet
Schalke defender Christian Fuchs scored a goal in each half to help condemn Maccabi Haifa to their fifth straight defeat against German opposition in Europe as they lost 3-1.

Fuchs opened the scoring for the home side in the seventh minute when he drilled the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Idan Vered equalised for Maccabi 10 minutes before the break with a shot from close range before Fuchs put Schalke back in control in the 65th minute from a well taken free-kick.

Jose Jurado added a third for Schalke with 10 minutes left to put the game out of reach.

Schalke's only previous experience of Israeli opposition was against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in last season's UEFA Champions League group stage when they won 3-1 in Gelsenkirchen and drew 0-0 in Tel Aviv.

And the Germans kept their unbeaten record after two goals from Fuchs ensured they took maximum points.

The defender opened the scoring early in the first half when he latched on to the end of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's cross from the left wing, firing low and to the right of Bojan Saranov's goal from the left side of the area.

However, Vered levelled the score for the Israelis after Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann parried his initial shot.

Vered followed up from close range to leave the match evenly poised at half-time.

After the break, Fuchs got on to the scoresheet again and swing the match back Schalke's way.

The defender beat Maccabi goalkeeper Saranov for the second time when his inswinging 25-yard free-kick found the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The Maccabi defence could only watch as the ball flew into the net before Jurado gave Schalke a two goal cushion with 10 minutes left.

The midfielder, who came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, scored from inside the area with a low drilled strike.

Vered had a chance to get a late goal back for Maccabi but he was ruled offside in the visitor's last real chance in the match.