Bayern survive Kiel fightback to go 9 points clear, Dortmund win
- 2 hours ago
Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to nine points on Saturday with an extraordinary 4-3 victory over Holstein Kiel.
Bayern led 4-0 before Finn Porath replied after 62 minutes. The hosts seemed to be coasting heading into added time, but Steven Skrzybski scored twice in stoppage time as Kiel threatened to steal an unlikely point.
The full-time whistle was met with relief around the Allianz Arena.
With Bayern’s closest title rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, hosting Hoffenheim on Sunday, Vincent Kompany’s side took their chance to create a gulf between them and the champions.
The Bavarians went ahead in the 19th minute when Jamal Musiala finished a beautiful team goal that involved a quick interchange of passes between Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and then Musiala, who steered in his 10th league goal of the season.
Bayern found top gear and dominated the rest of the half with Olise and Aleksandar Pavlovic going close from long range.
Kiel had almost made it to half-time just a goal behind but with less than a minute of stoppage time to go, Bayern struck a killer blow.
Kingsley Coman beat his man on the left and lofted a cross onto the head of Harry Kane, who couldn’t miss from close range. Kane scored another in the first minute of the second half, heading home Raphael Guerreiro’s pinpoint cross.
It was Kane’s 55th league goal in 50 appearances, another Bundesliga goalscoring record that Kane has rewritten.
Serge Gnabry, a half-time replacement for Olise, joined the party with a fine goal, bringing a high ball under his spell with his right foot and volleying in with his left.
Kiel struck back with a beautifully-executed strike by Porath which seemed little more than a consolation, even after the fourth official indicated five additional minutes.
Skrzybski scored in the 91st and 93rd minutes to punish Bayern’s lack of concentration, but the hosts limped over the line as wounded victors.
Borussia Dortmund picked up a slim 2-1 victory at struggling Heidenheim in their final game before Niko Kovac takes charge of the Black and Yellows, following the recent sacking of coach Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund went in front after 33 minutes. Heidenheim couldn’t clear Julian Ryerson’s corner, Waldemar Anton juggled the ball in the box and slid a tame shot towards goal that Serhou Guirassy seized on to score from close range.
It was the Guinean striker’s fifth goal in his last four games and followed a double in the Champions League in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Heidenheim came into the contest without a win in their previous 14 league games and occupying the relegation play-off position.
The game remained tight until the 63rd minute when Ramy Bensebaini drilled a low cross in from the left and substitute Max Beier made a difficult finish look easy, deftly guiding the ball into the far corner.
Dortmund became their own worst enemies, conceding 18 seconds after the restart. Frans Kraetzig found space down the left and cut back for another player off the bench, Mathias Honsak, whose first-time finish cut Dortmund’s lead in half in the blink of an eye.
Dortmund held firm and weathered some late pressure to pick up a first league win since December 22, snapping a four-game winless streak in the Bundesliga.
Werder pip Mainz: Werder Bremen bounced back after missing an early penalty kick to beat Mainz 1-0 on Friday and move to within two points of the Champions League qualification places.
Mainz started the day in sixth place, three places above the home side, but it was Bremen who took the early initiative.
It should have gone ahead as early as the 10th minute but Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner saved a Marvin Ducksch penalty awarded after the keeper brought down Romano Schmid.
However, Bremen were not to be denied and four minutes later they took the lead.
A corner ricocheted around the box and Leonardo Bittencourt stabbed in the loose ball from three meters out. Bittencourt limped off after 33 minutes but it was only in the second half that Mainz threatened to draw level.
Agencies
