Kane nets hat-trick to send Bayern Munich eight points clear
Harry Kane notched a hat-trick to secure victory for Bayern Munich over Augsburg, leaving them eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Much of the night was frustrating for Bayern as they were held goalless until half-time and then, after Kane’s first spot-kick just after the hour mark, struggled to grab a killer second.
Jamal Musiala had 10 of Bayern’s 31 shots in the match and was denied by opposition goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic on six occasions.
Both spot-kicks came via VAR, the first due to a handball from Mads Pedersen and the second, in injury time, when Keven Schlotterbeck brought the England striker down, leading to the defender picking up a second yellow card.
Insult to injury for the gutsy Augsburg defence came just before the final whistle when Kane controlled Leon Goretzka’s long ball superbly in the air and then headed home past the fallen goalkeeper.
Talking Point – Kane’s incredible run continues…and should come with silver lining
It was like a lot of Kane’s games for England where for much of the contest he did not look like scoring, but when presented with a chance from 12 yards out, he delivered – twice.
He has now scored 25 times from the spot since missing that kick in the World Cup against France – how he will wish he could exchange one of these goals for that one. The England skipper has now scored an incredible 84 penalties in his career.
The last goal was one which may go on a career highlight reel. Stretching his leg further than his fitness trainer would want from a 31-year-old, he was maybe a little fortunate to see the ball hang in the air from his touch, and allow him the impudence of nodding the ball home past the helpless sprawling goalkeeper.
With 14 goals from 11 games he is three clear as the top scorer in the Bundesliga, but of course it is a major trophy he wants, and with Bayer Leverkusen well off the pace, that will surely happen this season.
Player of the Match – Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
It was a match which said so much about his character. Yes, his shooting was not quite on point, giving the opposition goalkeeper a chance to save his multiple efforts, but his will was indomitable. If he had not been taken off the field, he would still have been shooting as the lights in the Allianz Arena went out. We so often marvel at his skills, but this highlighted his perseverance, on a night where things did not go for him.
Player Ratings
Bayern: Neuer 6; Raphael Guerreiro 6, Kim Min-jae 7, Upamecano 6, Davies 7; Kimmich 6, Goretzka 7; Olise 6, Musiala 8, Coman 7; Kane 8.
Subs: Gnabry 7, Sane 6, Laimer 6, Muller, Boey.
Augsburg: Labrovic 7; Matsima 7, Gouweleeuw 7, Schlotterbeck 5; Wolf 6, Onyeka 6, Rexhbecaj 7, Maier 6, Giannoulis 6; Claude-Maurice 6, Tietz 6.
Subs: Pedersen 5, Komur 6, Essende 6, Koudossou 6, Vargas 6.
Match Highlights
50′ OFF THE BAR! Davies with a cross from the left flank and Goretzka lofted a header over the keeper but it just bounced off the top of the crossbar and over.
61′ KANE APPEALS FOR PENALTY! THE REFEREE WILL LOOK AT SIDELINE SCREEN….PENALTY! The ball strikes the horizontally outstretched arm of Pedersen ahead of the England striker at the back post from a corner.
63′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE PEN) 1-0 AUGSBURG! Kane notches his ninth straight penalty for Bayern sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
90′ GNABRY BATTLES TO THE BY-LINE! And then drives the ball across the goal. It looked like Kane should have put the ball away. Or was he fouled? They will check.
90+2′ PENALTY! AND A RED CARD! The referee gives a second spot kick for Bayern….and a second yellow to Schlotterbeck for his contact on Kane’s leg which felled him.
90+2′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE PEN) 2-0 AUGSBURG! A second for Bayern and a second Kane penalty. His 13th goal of the season.
90+5′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE) 3-0 AUGSBURG! Kane grabs a hat-trick controlling Goretzka’s diagonal ball and then heading home from close range.
Key Stat
160 – There has not been a goalless draw in a Bayern Munich Bundesliga game in the last 160 matches.
