U.S. star Hoppe dents Frankfurt's Champions League hopes as Schalke win

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Matthew Hoppe scores sensational goal for Schalke

U.S. youngster Matthew Hoppe adds another stellar goal to his collection this season.

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:07 am

Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt crashed to a 4-3 defeat at relegated Schalke on Saturday to all but dash their hopes of a top-four finish with one game left in the season.

Frankfurt are in fifth place on 57 points, with Borussia Dortmund fourth on 58 and in action against Mainz on Sunday. A win would see them secure fourth place before the final matchday.

The top four teams qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Frankfurt battled back after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had put the hosts in front in the 15th minute, scoring on the rebound after his penalty was saved.

Matthew Hoppe completed a remarkable turnaround for Schalke.
Guido Kirchner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Andre Silva levelled in the 29th and Evan Ndicka put them 2-1 up six minutes after the restart.

But Schalke, in last place, struck three times in 12 minutes through Blendi Idrizi, Florian Flick and Matthew Hoppe to turn the game around.

Silva struck again to set a club record with a his 27th league goal in the season, one better than Bernd Hoelzenbein's 1976-77 run, but it was not enough as Schalke's win boosted their Ruhr valley rivals' chances of a fourth-place finish.