This goal was a long time in the coming: before Saturday and since making his debut in January 2007, Jerome Boateng had clocked up 129 Bundesliga appearances, for Hertha Berlin (10), Hamburg (75) and Bayern (44), but he had never managed a goal in the German top flight. That meant the centre-back bore an unwanted mantle as the man among all current Bundesliga outfield players with the most appearances but no goal to his name. However, in his 130th match, Jerome finally put an end to his drought - and in some style too.
His yearned-for maiden strike was of immense value when it came, because his thumping header from six yards out just four minutes from time earned the league leaders a narrow 3-2 home win against Fortuna Düsseldorf. The victory maintained Bayern's perfect record in the eight league games since the winter break, and keeps FCB firmly on course for the championship title.
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