Harry Kane scores four against Dinamo Zagreb
Wed, 18/09/24, 02:29
11 goals, three penalties: FC Bayern celebrate 'incredible night' of drama
After 78 minutes in a wild game of football, even Harry Kane seemed confused for just a moment. “I've never had three penalties in one game,” the striker later confirmed. “I didn't really know what to do and where to shoot the third one.” Fortunately for FC Bayern, Kane did what he had already done twice before successfully: he scored. Following a hat-trick in the Bundesliga game against Kiel three days earlier, Kane scored goals 50 to 53 for Bayern. In the end, the Bavarians celebrated the club's joint highest win in Champions League history, a memorable and even deserved 9-2 (3:0).
Stunning goal for 2-0: Raphaël Guerreiro provided the most beautiful goal of the evening.
Two Bayern goals disallowed
The spectators in the Arena in Fröttmaning witnessed a spectacular, at times even breath-taking game of football, not only because of the 11 goals scored. This game had plenty of drama in store. In a vastly superior first half, Bayern initially had two goals disallowed, before scoring three within the first 45 minutes (Kane, pen 19', Raphaël Guerreiro with a screamer 33' and Michael Olise with a header 38'). A first moment of concern came at half-time, however, when Manuel Neuer was forced to stay in the dressing room due to a first-half collision. “We didn't want to take any risks,” Vincent Kompany said ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga encounter with Werder Bremen.
Impressive Champions League debut: Michael Olise heads in the first of his two goals.
Whether it was the captain's withdrawal, the seemingly comfortable lead or the difference in class, for a brief period of time – or a combination of all three – FC Bayern's defence now seemed disorganised. And Dinamo Zagreb used this moment to deliver a completely unexpected double-blow. Bruno Petković from close range (49') and Takuya Ogiwara in a one-v-one (50') were able to shock substitute goalkeeper Sven Ulreich and the 75,000 fans in the emotionally charged Allianz Arena.
“We stayed calm after the two goals and that was good. But, of course, this shouldn't happen to us. We need to stop that,” commented head coach Vincent Kompany. And indeed, during the course of some pretty shaky 10 minutes following the break, Ulreich even had to save spectacularly to prevent the visitors from equalising. “We weren't on the pitch for 10 minutes,” Harry Kane admitted. “ We need to learn from that. “
Heavy collision: Captain Manuel Neuer didn't come out for the second half as a precaution.
Only seven minutes of hope
In spite of the away supporters now making themselves heard from the upper stands in an attempt to further energise their team, the visitors' hopes of achieving a sensation only lasted for seven minutes. Following a shot by Joshua Kimmich which Dinamo keeper Ivan Nevistić could only parry, Kane scored the relieving 4-2 (57'). This goal seemed to bring Bayern right back on track as they now began to steam-roll towards their plucky opposition. “It was a difficult evening for us. Bayern are a different league,” Dinamo coach Sergej Jakirovi admitted. “We were punished for every mistake.”
Three penalties, three times to the left, three goals: Harry Kane scored four goals against Zagreb.
Fourth Bayern player to score four goals
And the punishment came in quick waves from now on, as Bayern relentlessly used every inch of space given to them. In his first ever Champions League game, the impressive Olise made it a brace after 61 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Kane scored with his second penalty of the day to make it 6-2, again going to the left. And despite his aforementioned moment of confusion, after 78 minutes he scored his third penalty goal of the day to mark the 7-2 (78'). The 31-year-old is now the fourth player after Mario Gomez, Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski to score four goals in a Champions League game for Bayern Munich.
Proud of his team: Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
No more confusion for Kane
But it still wasn't over yet. Leroy Sané celebrated a comeback goal to make it 8-2, before Leon Goretzka added the finishing touch in added time. “What really matters to me today,” head coach Kompany emphasised, “is that we had 11 players on the pitch today who worked towards the back until the very end.“ And that included four-goal man Kane, who accepted the man-of-the-match trophy in front of the singing and dancing Bayern fans. No more confusion for a smiling Kane: “Overall, this was an incredible night.”
The match report from the historic win over Zagreb:
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