BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane saved Bayern Munich from a humiliating home defeat against the Bundesliga’s bottom team.
The England forward converted a penalty in the 87th minute to give Bayern a 2-2 draw with Mainz on Sunday. Bayern are leading the league, but have yet to lose a game.
The visiting team was playing their first league game under new manager Urs Fischer, who previously had great success with Union Berlin. Fischer was appointed last week as Bo Henriksen’s replacement after Mainz’s disastrous start to the Bundesliga.
Bayern took the lead from the start, with the team’s rising star Lennart Karl taking the lead in the 29th minute when he connected with Serge Gnabry’s cross from a well-placed position.
This was Bayern’s 50th Bundesliga goal of the season, a record they achieved after just 14 league matches.
However, the home side failed to capitalize further on their advantage and were shocked when defender Kakper Potulski equalized with a header after William Böbing’s free-kick before the break. This was the 18-year-old Polish youth international’s first Bundesliga goal in only his second league game.
The visiting fans were in dreamland when Lee Jae-sung headed in Stefan Bell’s deep cross in the 67th minute, but there was still plenty of time for Bayern to hit back.
Coach Vincent Kompany has sent forward Nicolas Jackson to Senegal for his final match before heading to Morocco for the African Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21st. Canada’s Alphonso Davies had already made his first league appearance in nine months after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Potulski was penalized for holding Kane and the England forward hit himself with his 17th Bundesliga goal of the season.
Mainz managed to hold on through seven minutes of stoppage time and celebrated what looked like a victory.
Another Bundesliga wonder
Freiburg forward Lukas Höler scored with a brilliant bicycle kick to keep 10-man Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw.
In the 75th minute, Heller stopped Christian Günter’s cross with his left spike, turned and smashed the ball in with his right, which hit the right post, denying Dortmund a chance for a second goal.
This goal came a day after Bayer Leverkusen’s Martin Telia. Scored a goal that could be considered the goal of the season Saturday.
Dortmund had Jobe Bellingham sent off in the 53rd minute for a foul on Filip Troy for cutting off a poor pass from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Korbel, and Troy could have broken through alone on goal.
Ramy Bensebaini opened the scoring in the 31st minute, although Freiburg’s defense was unable to deal with Jan Couto’s free kick.
It was Dortmund’s second consecutive draw following Wednesday’s disappointing 2-2 draw in the Champions League against Bodø/Glimt.
Stuttgart faced Werder Bremen later on Sunday.
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