Last-ditch Kane header sends Bayern through

FC Bayern beat Wehen Wiesbaden 3-2 to advance to the second round of the DFB Cup. Bayern were dominant in the first half, but only Harry Kane’s goal from the penalty spot separated the sides at half-time. Michael Olise doubled the lead shortly after the restart, before Wiesbaden captain Fatih Kaya netted twice to level the scores. The tie was heading to extra-time until Kane headed home to ensure progress at the death.

Bayern lined up with Jonas Urbig in goal and Sacha Boey, Minjae Kim, Jonathan Tah and Raphaël Guerreiro in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Lennart Karl and Luis Díaz, with Kane up front. Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić took over from Pavlović, Karl, Boey and Guerreiro in the second half.

Kane on target

Bayern were dominant from the off and had the first chance after seconds, when Díaz saw an effort saved. Olise fired over before Munich had a shout for a penalty waved aside when Jordy Gillekens appeared to handle the ball in the box. Referee Daniel Siebert did point to the spot, however, when Boey was upended in the box, with Kane dispatching to put Bayern in front.

Wiesbaden goalkeeper Florian Stritzel proved equal to a Díaz effort and the latter saw another shot blocked, with Stritzel making a fine save to deny Guerreiro. Díaz miscued an overhead kick before Kaya had an effort blocked at the other end. Kane was denied by Stritzel and the assistant’s flag as Bayern remained one up at half-time.

Thrilling second half

Munich made it two after the interval, when Karl cut inside from the left and teed up Boey, with Wiesbaden clearing only as far as Olise, who finished clinically. Bayern soon had the ball in the back of the net for a third time, but Guerreiro’s goal was chalked off for Kane’s offside position. Stritzel denied Díaz, who saw another effort miss the target as well before the home side pulled one back when Niklas May’s pinpoint cross found Kaya at the far post, the Wiesbaden captain beating Urbig.

Stritzel saved from Boey, but the 3. Liga soon levelled the scores, with Kaya through on goal and firing past Urbig following a flicked-on long ball. Gnabry had a shot saved and Kane saw the rebound blocked before the striker was upended. The referee again pointed to the penalty spot, but this time Kane was thwarted by Stritzel and again on the rebound for the England captain’s first penalty miss for club or country since the 2022 World Cup. Bayern had to wait until added time for Kane to make amends and seal the winner when he rose high to head home from Stanišić’s cross.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Augsburg in the Bundesliga. They will learn the identity of their next cup opponents on Sunday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen