It was one of the most one-sided games in recent Schalke 04 history - yet the Königsblauen still needed a dramatic comeback and extra time to get the job done.
Schalke defeated Hallescher FC 5-2 after extra timein a thrilling first-round DFB-Pokal encounter, surviving a late scare from the third-tier side to book their place in the next round.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that Miron Muslić had found the right recipe for his team. Schalke controlled the game, dominated possession and consistently created pressure around the Halle penalty area.
There was just one problem: they couldn't find the net.
Schalke started the match without superstar Edin Džeko, who watched the opening stages from the bench. However, as the game progressed, it became increasingly obvious that the experience and quality of the veteran striker could be exactly what Schalke needed to break through.
The first half remained relatively quiet despite Schalke's dominance, with the Bundesliga side unable to turn their superiority into goals.
The second half, however, exploded into life.
Less than 60 seconds after the restart, Halle stunned the visitors. Vin Kastullfound the back of the net to give the hosts a shock 1-0 lead.
Schalke responded impressively and did not allow the setback to derail them. Their pressure finally paid off when Dejan Ljubičićfound himself in the right place at the right time, tapping the ball into an almost empty net after a previous effort from a teammate had been blocked.
At 1-1, Schalke turned the screw once again.
Muslić's side continued to pile on the pressure and were eventually rewarded with a penalty in the 81st minute.
And there was only one man for the job. Džeko stepped up.The substitute kept his composure and fired the penalty straight down the middle to give Schalke a 2-1 lead.
It looked as though the Bundesliga side had finally completed their comeback. But Halle had one final twist in store.
Deep into stoppage time, the hosts created a huge opportunity to equalise. Loris Karius produced an important save, but the resulting corner proved even more dangerous. Halle converted from the set piece to make it 2-2, sending the game into extra time.
That made Schalke the only Bundesliga side to require extra time in the first round of this season's DFB-Pokal.
The hosts initially slowed down their pursuit of another goal, seemingly content to wait for the final stages of extra time before making another push.
Schalke, meanwhile, continued to look dangerous. And in the 98th minute, they struck again.
Moussa Sylla put Schalke back in front, finishing off a move created by Džeko. The veteran striker added another decisive contribution after coming off the bench.
Halle now had another mountain to climb - but Schalke had finally turned their overwhelming dominance into a lead that they would desperately try to protect - or increase.
Shortly before the extra-time-break, Sylla found new signing Adamu in the box, who headed the ball in to make it 4-2 to the visitors.
That was the final piece in the pudding and ended the hosts' hope of starting another comeback. Schalke had more energy in the final minutes of the game and extended their lead by another goal in the 117th minute, after Gosen's cross found Džeko's head.
Schalke's performance was actually quite impressive. Let's see how they can fare back in the Bundesliga next week.
