McKennie's Goal Against Dusseldorf

On This Day in 2020, the Midfielder's Diving Header was a Brief Glimmer During Difficult Times

When David Wagner took the managerial reins at Schalke 04 in the summer of 2019, Weston McKennie found himself at a juncture in his young career. The 21-year-old American midfielder had already established himself as a presence in Gelsenkirchen. Still, under Wagner's guidance, McKennie's role evolved into something more essential, becoming a cornerstone for a Royal Blues side with European ambitions. His versatility proved invaluable to Wagner's tactical approach, with the Texas native deployed across multiple positions in midfield and occasionally in defense, showcasing his tactical intelligence and physical prowess.

By March 2020, McKennie had also begun finding his scoring touch. His goal against Hoffenheim on March 7 demonstrated his aerial ability and knack for timely runs—attributes that would later define one of the most memorable moments of his career. Despite his personal development, however, Schalke's form had become increasingly concerning, with results deteriorating even before an unprecedented global crisis would change everything.

On March 13, 2020, the German Bundesliga became one of countless sporting competitions worldwide to suspend operations as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe. For 81 long days, the usually vibrant stadiums of Germany fell silent, with players confined to individual training regimens and virtual team meetings. The uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily on clubs like Schalke, whose financial difficulties were exacerbated by the sudden loss of matchday revenue.

When the Bundesliga became the first major European league to return to action in mid-May, it did so under strictly controlled conditions—empty stadiums, rigorous testing protocols and socially distanced celebrations. The eerie silence of these "geisterspiele" (ghost games) created an atmosphere unlike anything players had experienced before, requiring a different mental fortitude.

Schalke's return to competitive action proved disastrous. A 4-0 thrashing at the hands of rivals Borussia Dortmund in the Revierderby laid bare the team's vulnerabilities, with the absence of passionate support from the Veltins-Arena faithful keenly felt. The following week brought no respite, as Wagner's men slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Augsburg. In two matches, seven goals were conceded, and none were scored. Schalke's post-pandemic form had the club in free fall. The situation grew increasingly desperate as the team extended its winless streak to eight matches. The once-proud Königsblauen, who had started the season with hopes of European qualification, now slid down the table, their confidence visibly shattered. As they prepared to face relegation-threatened Fortuna Dusseldorf on May 27, pressure mounted on Wagner and his players to arrest the decline.

The Merkur Spiel-Arena stood eerily quiet as Schalke and Dusseldorf played out a cautious first half, neither side willing to risk the early mistake. With both teams struggling for form, the technical quality reflected their fragile confidence. No fans urged them forward, no chants echoed around the stadium—just the players' calls and the hollow thud of boot on ball reverberating around the empty stands.

Eight minutes after the restart, the match finally sparked into life. Schalke won a free kick on the left flank, presenting Bastian Oczipka with the chance to deliver one of his trademark crosses. As he stepped up, McKennie began his run from the edge of the box, timing his movement perfectly to evade his marker. Oczipka's delivery was exquisite—curling with pace toward the far post—and McKennie's response was even better. The American launched himself horizontally, extending his entire body in a spectacular diving header that sent the ball arrowing into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier.

The goal was a moment of pure commitment and athletic brilliance in a period otherwise devoid of highlights for Schalke. McKennie's celebration was muted—a reflection of the strange circumstances and perhaps an acknowledgment that the job was far from complete. But for the first time in 247 minutes of post-pandemic football, Schalke had found the net. More significantly, they had taken the lead in a Bundesliga match for the first time since February. For the traveling Schalke contingent watching from home, McKennie's diving header represented more than just the opening goal—it was a desperately needed injection of hope, a reminder of the quality within their beleaguered squad. The American had now scored Schalke's last two goals in league play, remarkably separated by 81 days due to the coronavirus suspension. 

The optimism generated by McKennie's moment of brilliance proved short-lived. Just ten minutes after taking the lead, Schalke's fragile defense cracked. Rouwen Hennings nodded home a 63rd-minute equalizer after goalkeeper Markus Schubert could only parry Kevin Stöger's fierce free kick. The goal stood after a brief VAR check, and Schalke's shoulders visibly slumped. Worse was to follow five minutes later when more defensive disorganization allowed Fortuna to complete their comeback. In a painful twist for McKennie, he found himself caught ball-watching as Kenan Karaman ghosted in at the far post to head home from point-blank range. From potential hero to unwitting villain in the space of fifteen minutes—such was the cruel nature of football's fine margins.

Despite throwing men forward in the closing stages and McKennie's desperate attempts to reach a late cross at the back post, Schalke couldn't find an equalizer. The 2-1 defeat extended their winless run to nine matches and kept them five points adrift of a European qualification spot that once seemed well within their grasp.

Three days after the disappointing defeat in Dusseldorf, McKennie would make headlines for reasons that transcended football. On May 30, during Schalke's home match against Werder Bremen, the American wore a handmade armband bearing the words "Justice for George." The gesture came in response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin—an event that had sparked protests across the United States and around the world.

"To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on too long feels good!!!" McKennie posted on Twitter after the match. "We have to stand up for what we believe in, and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism."

McKennie's statement became the first of many footballer demonstrations in the following weeks. The following weekend, Bundesliga players, including Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi and Marcus Thuram, made similar gestures of solidarity. By June 7, entire teams were kneeling before matches in unified anti-racism statements, with referees and officials joining in the demonstrations.

In a season defined by unprecedented challenges both on and off the pitch, McKennie's diving header against Fortuna Dusseldorf ultimately became a footnote in Schalke's disappointing campaign. After being has high as third in the table in late November, Schalke won its last league match of the season on January 17, meaning that winless streak continued and finished at 16 matches without a win after final day defeat to Freiburg. But his courage in using his platform to speak out against injustice revealed a young man whose impact extended far beyond the white lines of the football pitch. While his goal provided only momentary joy for Schalke supporters, his stance against racism resonated far more widely, helping to amplify important conversations within the football world and beyond.