Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to nine points on Saturday with an entertaining 4-3 win over strugglers Holstein Kiel.
Kane was the star of the show once again for Bayern, as Vincent Kompany’s side held off a determined charge from the Bundesliga’s newcomers. Bayern took the lead on 18 minutes when Kane flicked a pass into Michael Olise in the penalty box.
The winger prepared to fire but instead passed the ball back to Jamal Musiala, who scored the opening goal.
Kiel may have feared the worst at the time, but they could have leveled minutes later. Lewis Holtby pounced on a loose ball in the area and fired past Manuel Neuer, but Bayern were grateful to Kim Min-jae, who ran back and hooked clear of the line.
Bayern did have other chances with Olise hitting the post and Aleksander Pavlovic denied by a great save from goalkeeper Timon Weiner.
Yet Kiel were undone again just before half-time after some patient build-up play that ended when Kingsley Coman clipping a ball in for Kane to head home from close rangeThe second half started with Kane scoring again to put the game out of sight.
Once more the ball was sent into the box, this time by Raphaël Guerreiro, for Kane to nonchalantly head past Weiner. A fourth followed fairly promptly through Serge Gnabry, as the half-time substitute pulled the ball down with his left foot and then smashed home on the volley with his right.
However, Holstein Kiel did give their fans something to ponder about on the hour when they pulled one back. Timo Becker seized possession and set up Finn Porath, who unleashed a spectacular shot across goal and beyond Neuer. The visitors weren’t done there either. Steven Skrzybski’s two stoppage-time goals provided an astonishing climax to the game, leaving Kompany scowling on the touchline despite his team’s victory.
Kane’s 54th and 55th goals came in his 50th Bundesliga game; no other player has scored as many goals in his first 50 league outings in Germany.
Holstein Kiel were putting up a decent fight against Bayern until two goals from Kane, either side of half-time, finished off the Bundesliga strugglers. The England star pounced with two headers to mark his 50th Bundesliga appearance in some style. Kane looked on course for another hat-trick too, until Kompany gave his star man a rest before the hour was even up.
Olise was substituted at halftime as a precaution after sustaining a knock in the first half. The winger received some treatment on the field and was able to continue, but the fact that he did not return shows Bayern did not want to take any chances. Olise had already provided an assist for the opener, bringing his season total to ten, and Bayern will be praying that he is not sidelined for an extended period of time.
Bayern are back in Bundesliga action on Friday against Werder Bremen before a Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic.