Kane Saves Bayern's Blushes in Berlin Thriller
Harry Kane demonstrated his trademark resilience by heading a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Bayern Munich, securing a 2-2 draw against a determined Union Berlin side and preventing what would have been the Bavarians' first defeat of the season. The England captain's late intervention came after his own error had contributed to Union taking a late lead, making his 83rd-minute redemption all the more significant.
A Rollercoaster Encounter in the Capital
The match began with Bayern, fresh from a 16-game winning streak across all competitions, looking surprisingly off the pace against their hard-working hosts. Union Berlin thought they had taken an early lead in the ninth minute through Ilyas Ansah, but the goal was chalked off following a VAR review for a marginal offside decision, leaving home fans bitterly disappointed.
Their frustration turned to joy in the 27th minute, however, when Danilho Doekhi's relatively weak shot somehow slipped through the hands and under the body of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. This moment marked two significant firsts for Bayern this Bundesliga campaign: the first goal they had conceded in the first half and the first time they had found themselves trailing in a league match.
Diaz Delivers and Disappoints
Bayern found their way back into the game through Luis Díaz, who continued his impressive form after scoring twice in the midweek Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain. The Colombian international played a superb one-two with Josip Stanisic, showed incredible determination to slide and keep the ball in play, and then curled a magnificent shot from near the sideline into the top far corner.
Díaz should have put the champions ahead just before half-time after being sent through by a clever Kane pass, but with only the keeper to beat, he fired his shot well wide of the target. This missed opportunity looked set to prove costly as the match entered its final stages.
In the 83rd minute, Doekhi volleyed in his second goal of the game after Kane failed to clear a Union Berlin free-kick, seemingly handing the hosts a famous victory. But the narrative was not yet complete.
Captain Kane to the Rescue
Demonstrating the mental fortitude that has defined his career, Kane made amends for his part in Union's second goal by rising to meet a late cross and powering a header into the net for his 13th league goal of the season. The last-gasp equaliser in added time preserved Bayern's unbeaten record and extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points, as title rivals RB Leipzig suffered a 3-1 defeat at Hoffenheim.
Reflecting on the challenging match, Kane stated: "It was a tough game. It wasn't our best game, but we stayed focused and managed to equalise. That's football, there are games like today where things go against you. We'll take the point." He added that avoiding a defeat before the international break was crucial for maintaining momentum, acknowledging that while the remarkable 16-win streak was over, the team would now move on.
In other Bundesliga action, Borussia Dortmund also conceded a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Hamburg. Carney Chukwuemeka had given Dortmund a 64th-minute lead, but Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer headed in an equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The result leaves Dortmund third in the table, now seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
