Schalke 04 2 : 1 Hertha BSC Berlin - Schalke see off 10-man Hertha Berlin thanks to late goal from Max Meyer

A late Max Meyer goal earned Schalke all three points in a 2-1 win against Hertha Berlin, who played most of the game with only 10 men.

Benedikt Howedes headed Schalke in front in the 27th minute, 10 minutes after Vedad Ibisevic had been dismissed for the guests.

Salomon Kalou punished Schalke for failing to add to their lead, but Meyer popped up in stoppage time to earn the hosts all three points and take them back to within a point of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting lifted the ball in for Leon Goretzka to head over the first opening of the game for the hosts in the eighth minute.

Hertha were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute when Ibisevic hacked down Meyer on his way through to receive a red card.

Schalke needed almost 10 minutes to make their extra man count, and it was Howedes who headed them in front from Johannes Geis' corner.

Rune Jarstein nearly gifted Schalke a second when he hit a pass against Franco Di Santo with the ball trickling just wide of the far post, much to the Norwegian goalkeeper's relief.

He did only slightly better to keep out a Geis free-kick, although his save was anything but convincing.

Howedes headed just wide as the Royal Blues sought to put the game beyond Hertha and allow them to turn attention to their Europa League clash with Sparta Prague on Thursday.

They perhaps let their attention wander a little too soon, however, with Howedes losing track of Kalou at the far post and the former Chelsea forward headed the visitors back on terms with just over 15 minutes remaining, stunning the Arena AufSchalke.

Ralf Fahrmann ensured things did not get even worse for Andre Breitenreiter's men with a fine reflex save.

Almost with the last chance of the game, though, Schalke regained the lead with Leroy Sane racing through, rounding Baumann and showing the composure to set up Meyer to score from close range.