Kane scores as Bayern Munich draw against bottom side Mainz
Bayern Munich moved nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after being held to a dramatic late draw by bottom-placed Mainz in an enthralling encounter at the Allianz Arena.
The hosts started strongly and took the lead in the 29th minute through teenager Lennart Karl. The young forward demonstrated composure beyond his years, slotting the ball home from close range after a swift Bayern build-up, giving the league leaders an early advantage. Bayern looked in control, dictating possession and pressing high, but Mainz showed remarkable resilience.
Just before half-time, Mainz grabbed an unlikely equaliser that silenced the home crowd. William Boving delivered a precise free-kick into the penalty area, where Kacper Potulski rose highest to head the ball past Manuel Neuer, leveling the scores. The goal injected confidence into the visitors, who had been on the back foot for much of the first half.
The second half saw Mainz turn the game on its head in the 67th minute. Stefan Bell delivered a perfectly measured chipped pass into the path of Jae-sung Lee, whose sublime header found the bottom corner of the net, leaving Bayern’s veteran goalkeeper Neuer stranded. The goal sparked celebrations among the traveling fans and threatened to derail Bayern’s title charge.
Bayern, however, refused to accept defeat. In the 87th minute, Harry Kane was fouled in the penalty area by Potulski. The England captain stepped up and converted the spot-kick with calm precision, rescuing a crucial point for the Bundesliga leaders. Kane’s goal not only kept Bayern undefeated in the match but also extended his lead as the league’s top scorer, with 18 goals in the campaign and 80 in the Bundesliga overall.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side will next face Heidenheim on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 GMT.
