West Ham United have beaten Schalke 04 on penalties following a goalless draw in their Schalke 04 cup match at the Veltins-Arena.
The hosts dominated the game and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting came closest to breaking the deadlock with an effort that came back off the post.
James Collins had West Ham's best chance, but he could only head over the bar from a corner as the match finished goalless.
Penalties were needed to separate the sides and the Hammers came out on top after winning 7-6 in the shootout.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Schalke 04 cup match between Schalke 04 and West Ham United at the Veltins-Arena.
It's the first day of the Schalke 04 cup and we are in the city of Gelsenkirchen to see West Ham face the hosts Schalke. In the opening match of the four-team tournament Malaga have just beaten Newcastle United 3-1, so the Hammers will want to produce a better display then their Premier League counterparts.
SCHALKE XI: Giefer, Freidrich, Kolasinac, Boateng, Hoger, Choupo-Moting, Fuchs, Barnetta, Multhaup, Matip, Neustadter
WEST HAM XI: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins, Collins, Potts, Nolan, Kouyate, Poyet, Fanimo, Downing, Cole
SCHALKE SUBS: Fahrmann, Santana, Mayer, Papadopoulos, Aogo, Borgmann, Avdijaj, Sobottka, Itter
WEST HAM: Reid, Cresswell, Jarvis, Lletget, Zarate, Vaz Te, Adrian, Cullen, Lee, Noble, Jenkinson, Nasha, Diame, Whitehead, Burke
TEAM NEWS: West Ham have named a side with experienced players such as Carlton Cole, Stewart Downing and James Collins, but local youngsters Matthias Fanimo and Dan Potts get their chance in the first team. There is also a start for new singing Diego Poyet, who joined from Charlton earlier this month. Schalke are without their leading marksman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but there is no shortage of quality in their team with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Joel Matip all starting.
If the scoreline is level by the end of today's match then we will head straight to a penalty shootout. Whichever team comes out on top after spot kicks will be given two points in addition to their one gained from the draw. The winners of the tournament will be decided after tomorrow's games which see Malaga take on West Ham and Schalke face Newcastle.
Things haven't gone quite according to plan for West Ham this pre-season. They are without a win following draws against Stevenage and Ipswich and defeats against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC on their tour of New Zealand and Australia. To cap things off, Andy Carroll is set to miss the first four months of the season after picking up an ankle injury.
Hammers fans will be hoping to see some of their newest signings get a run out this afternoon. They are without Ecuador's World Cup start Enner Valencia, but Mauro Zarate is on the bench and should get a chance to impress. Also among the substitutes is Carl Jenkinson, who joined the club on loan from Arsenal earlier this week.
Let's take a look at West Ham's opponents this afternoon. Schalke finished third in the Bundesliga last season and will be playing in the group stages of the Champions League. They last won the league title back in 1958 and have been runners up three times in the previous decade. We can expect a big support from the home crowd for this match, with the Veltins-Arena capable of holding nearly 62,000 fans.
PREDICTION: With just a few minutes left before the match begins, I'll offer my thoughts on how I see things turning out. It has been a turbulent few weeks for West Ham with so much uncertainty surrounding the club and they desperately need a boost before their league season begins. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening today against a very good Schalke side. The Germans have plenty of quality throughout their team and I think they will run out 2-0 winners this afternoon.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Veltins-Arena!
It's been positive start by the Hammers who pick out Downing on the right hand side. The midfielder shows good skill to come inside on his left foot, before whipping a ball across the box that is headed behind under pressure by the home defence.
It's been positive start by the Hammers who pick out Downing on the right hand side. The midfielder shows good skill to come inside on his left foot, before whipping a ball across the box that is headed behind under pressure by the home defence.
CHANCE! The home side threaten for the first time as Fuchs finds some space in the midfield before unleashing a powerful drive that heads just over the top of Jaaskelainen's crossbar.
CHANCE! Schalke work another decent opening as Choupo-Moting latches onto a ball over the top, before holding off the challenge of Tomkins and driving in a low effort that is well blocked by Jaaskelainen.
It really has been an end to end start to this match, with plenty of space for both teams to exploit in behind. West Ham have shown that they will offer a threat and some neat play between Downing and Cole frees Kouyate down the right, but his cross is far too close to Giefer who claims at the front post.
Downing is seeing a lot of the ball down the right for West Ham, but he hasn't been able to pick out any of his teammates in the middle so far. With Cole playing upfront on his own, they will be looking to get plenty of men forward in support to exploit the space that they are finding at the moment.
Sam Allardyce will be more than pleased at the start his side have made. They have taken control of the possession and are moving the ball around with ease in the middle of the pitch. Working a few more chances on goal will surely be the priority, for a team who scored just 40 times in the Premier League last season.
Giefer has a worrying moment in the Schalke goal as he spills a long free kick into the path of Collins, who sees his effort cleared off the line. If West Ham had managed to find the net it wouldn't have counted though, as the flag was raised for a foul by Cole on the keeper.
Both teams are struggling to create any real goalscoring opportunities, after Schalke's two strikes in the first five minutes. Cole is starting to look a bit stranded up front for West Ham, while their defence has managed to cut out the threat of the Schalke attack.
OFF THE POST! West Ham lose the ball high up the pitch and it allows Schalke to break quickly on them. Choupo-Moting is eventually found just outside the box, and he cuts inside of Collins before powering in a low drive that comes crashing off the foot of the post.
Hoger goes down following a tough challenge from Kouyate which leaves the midfielder momentarily grounded. It has allowed each team to come across and take on some fluids, while in the meantime Hoger gets back up to his feet and he is able to carry on.
The game has become slightly scrappy in the past few minutes with a number of misplaced passes in the midfield. It seems that the opening goal of today's match could come from a mistake instead of a stunning strike or an inspired piece of play.
Schalke put together a good move just outside the West Ham box with Fuchs trying to exchange passes with Boateng, but the full back takes a heavy touch on the return and the chance goes to waste. The West Ham defence have looked pretty solid so far, but on a couple of occasions their concentration has let them down.
Fuchs has been involved in a lot of the home side's best play down the left and he manages to get the ball to the byline before whipping in a decent cross that is well cleared by Collins at the front post. At this moment in time, Schalke are looking by far the more likely to break the deadlock.
Boateng tries his best to inject a bit of life into the match with a strike from range after evading a couple of challenges in the midfield, but his effort is poor and goes harmlessly through to Jaaskelainen. It's stating to look more and more likely that we will be heading into the break on level terms.
It's all Schalke at the moment and they have penned the Hammers back on the edge of their area. They are still finding it hard to test the keeper and another chance for them to threaten goes to waste when Barnetta sees his cross from the right head out of play without troubling anyone in the middle.
CHANCE! Schalke win a corner on the right after Barnetta's shot deflects wide and from the resulting set piece a low delivery into the box is dummied by Boateng, before finding Friedrich who sees his low strike down the middle well held by Jaaskelainen.
HALF-TIME: Schalke 04 0-0 West Ham United
No stoppage time is added on by the referee who brings the first half to an end with the scoreline still goalless. Schalke have been the better side and have hit the post, but they have been unable to break down a stubborn Hammers defence in their home stadium.
Choupo-Moting had the two best attempts of the first half. He saw an early strike from close range kept out by Jaaskelainen early on, before rifling a low drive against the post midway through the half. The Cameroon international is a recent arrival at the club, having signed from Mainz 05 earlier this summer.
It was clear that today was going to be a tough match for West Ham, but they have performed well against such good opposition. They had a decent amount of possession in the early stages of the match before the hosts took control. It will be interesting to see what subs Allardyce makes after the break, with a number of decent options on the bench available to him.
As well as the action taking place here in Germany, we also have live coverage of Arsenal's match against Benfica. The score is currently 5-0 to the Gunners, with Yaya Sanogo bagging an incredible four goals and Joel Campbell netting the other.
West Ham take the kick off and we are back underway at the Veltins-Arena.
SUBSTITUTIONS: The Hammers have made a change at the break, with Reid coming on for Tomkins. Schalke have also changed their team around, with Meyer and Santana replacing Barnetta and Matip.
There has been no chances to speak of yet at the start of the second half, but the match has begun where the first 45 minutes left off, with Schalke in control of the possession. They are getting plenty of men forward and Boateng is unlucky to see a neat flick on the edge of the box cleared after a fine break.
SUBSTITUTIONS: West Ham make a double change, with Fanimo and Kouyate being replaced by Diame and Lletget.
West Ham haven't got in behind the Schalke defence too often in this match, but they manage to free Cole down the left hand side of the box. He looks up and tries to pick out a teammate in the middle, but his low cross is poor and is cut out at the front post.
Schalke contiune to look the more threatening of the two teams, but they haven't look entirely confident in front of goal. Following a decent break, they manage to pick out Hoger in space around 25 yards out from goal, but the midfielder's low drive is poorly struck and nowhere near to troubling Jaaskelainen.
CHANCE! West Ham have barely had a chance in this match, but they will feel that they should have taken the lead. It is Collins who rises highest to meet a corner in the middle, but the defender sends his thumping header over the bar. That was a really big moment for the visitors and it remains to be seen how many better opportunities they will get to score.
With just over 25 minutes of this match left it does not seem that we will be seeing a goal anytime soon. West Ham look set up to play for the draw and their opponents' are struggling to break them down. A set piece may yet decide this contest, as shown by West Ham's chance moments ago.
OFF THE BAR! We almost do have a goal from a set piece as Schalke win a free kick on the right and get plenty of men forward. The delivery is not dealt with by the Hammers and the ball falls kindly to Friedrich inside the box, but the defender can only fire his effort against the frame of the goal.
Schalke will be cursing their luck that two of their best chances have fallen to Friedrich. The 18-year-old defender has found himself in decent positions inside the box, but you would think that a player such as Choupo-Moting would have buried those efforts.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Schalke make a triple change, with Sobottka, Itter and Papadopoulos all coming on for Friedrich, Boateng and Multhaup.
YELLOW CARD! Cole picks up the first booking of the afternoon for the Hammers for a high challenge on Papadopoulos.
SUBSTITUTION: Downing heads off for West Ham, with Vaz Te coming on in his place.
YELLOW CARD! It's another booking for West Ham, as Potts is shown the yellow card for a lunging challenge on Avdijaj.
SUBSTITUTION: Schalke make another alteration to their side with Borgmann coming on for Fuchs. West Ham also make a change with Lee coming on for Cole.
It has become a really fractured ending to the match with all of these recent substitutions taking place. Of course in a friendly you expect this to happen and it is understandable given that the league season is still two weeks away.
It really does not look like we are going to see a goal today. If this match does indeed end goalless, then we will need a penalty shootout to decide the winners.
Schalke are ending the game strongly and are pushing a lot of men forward in search of what would be the winning goal at this late stage. They are finding space out wide on the flanks, but every ball they deliver into the box is being dealt with by the visiting defence.
FULL-TIME: Schalke 04 0-0 West Ham United
Following 90 minutes of action the two sides have not been able to be separated and we will now head straight to a penalty shootout. Schalke were well on top and had the best chances to claim the victory, but the lottery of spot kicks will now decide who earns an addition two points in the Schalke 04 cup.
GOAL! Nolan gives West Ham the lead in the shootout by sliding the ball into the bottom corner, with the keeper diving the wrong way.
GOAL! The scores are level as Neustadter confidently nestles his penalty into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
GOAL! It's another fine penalty as Collins sticks his effort right into the corner.
GOAL! The goals keep on coming as Meyer puts his effort just beyond the reach of Jaaskelainen who guessed the right way.
MISS! Vaz Te misses the first penalty of the shootout, as he sends his low effort wide of the goal.
GOAL! Schalke take the lead in the shootout through Papadopoulos, who drills a low effort straight down the middle.
GOAL! Lee scores for West Ham to make it 3-3 in the shootout, with a fine finish into the corner.
MISS! Santana misses for the hosts, as his penalty is brilliantly turned around the post by Jaaskelainen!
GOAL! West Ham are back in front as Poyet slots his effort into the back of the net. Schalke must score their next effort.
GOAL! We are now into sudden death as Aogo makes no mistake with a neat finish into the left hand corner of the net.
GOAL! O'Brien scores the first penalty of sudden death with another confident finish.
GOAL! The goals keep on coming as Itter slots an effort right into the corner of the net. It's now 5-5 in the shootout!
GOAL! We've seen some great spot kicks today and Potts puts his effort into the corner with the keeper diving the wrong way.
GOAL! We are level again after seven penalties as Sobottka fires an effort high into the corner of the net.
GOAL! West Ham are back in the lead with a low penalty from Lletget into the corner of the net.
MISS! It's all over as Borgmann sees his attempt saved by Jaaskelainen, which means that the Hammers have won 7-6 in the shootout!
It's not often that you see an English side beating German opposition on penalties but that's exactly what has happened today! After 13 penalties West Ham have triumphed and will take an extra two points in the Schalke Cup. It is perhaps unfair on the hosts, who were by far the better team, but that's why penalties are such a lottery.
That's all we've got time for here today in Gelsenkirchen. An entertaining shootout livened up a goalless draw, which will have provided a huge boost for West Ham. Please stay with us for all of our pre-season matches, with Manchester United and Liverpool in action later this evening. Until next time, goodbye!
