Harry Kane nets again but Bayern held by late Leverkusen leveller

  • 9/15/2023
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Bayer Leverkusen scored a stoppage-time penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich and end the Bavarians’ 100% start to the Bundesliga season. Harry Kane was on the scoresheet once again for the German champions, heading home from a corner after only seven minutes to make it four goals in as many league starts since his move from Tottenham. Alejandro Grimaldo made it 1-1 with a fine free-kick after 24 minutes and that’s how it stayed until four minutes to go, when Bayern’s Leon Goretzka tapped in after mesmerising work from substitute Mathys Tel. But there was still time for Alphonso Davies to bring down Jonas Hofmann and Exequiel Palacios thundered in the spot kick. “I was happy with the start but after that Leverkusen were better. Then in the end of the first half we had some huge chances to score,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. “The result is fair. But if you take the lead in the 86th you should get the three points even if a draw would be the fair result. “We struggled once more to maintain the level throughout, to remain stable. Our attacks became shorter and more hectic. Even at times when we struggle we have to be more compact.” The visitors bounced back from Kane’s early opener, pressing high, with Bayern struggling to keep possession in an entertaining first half. The pressure paid off as the visitors earned a free kick at the edge of the box. Grimaldo curled it perfectly over the wall and into the top corner. Leverkusen’s in-form striker Victor Boniface then rode roughshod over the Bayern defence for some 15 minutes, missing chance after chance to go in front. But Leverkusen also had keeper Lukas Hradecky to thank for taking them level into the break after denying Bayern four times towards the end of the first half with a string of superb saves. Both teams picked up where they left off after the interval, with Hradecky stopping Kane in a one-on-one after Bayern’s Sven Ulreich had blocked a Jeremie Frimpong shot from point-blank range. With Leverkusen back in control, Florian Wirtz hit the post after combining well with Boniface in the 79th minute and the Nigerian, who has scored four times in the league, then missed an opportunity of his own seconds later. But it was Bayern who scored with Tel weaving past the Leverkusen defence to set up Goretzka. Leverkusen, however, had the final say with Davies’ sloppy defending earning them a last-gasp spot kick after a VAR review. Palacios stepped up to secure a point. It was a match that lived up to its billing and the result leaves Bayern and Leverkusen level on 10 points at the top of the Bundesliga table. On Wednesday Bayern host Manchester United as the Champions League group stage gets under way.

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