Thanks to Kane’s penalty! Bayern shiver their way to a draw against Mainz | OneFootball

FC Bayern were held to a 2-2 draw by an extremely disciplined Mainz 05 side, but thanks to Harry Kane’s goal they were able to avoid their first Bundesliga defeat of the season

Despite a dominant start, FC Bayern were unable to create any goalscoring opportunities worth mentioning for a long time against a defensively strong Mainz 05. The opening goal by Lennart Karl did not last long either: Shortly before half-time, Kacper Potulski headed in the equalizer. Jae-Sung Lee also headed in the second goal in the 67th minute

Mainz had FCB on the brink of their first defeat of the season, but ultimately had to settle for a draw, as Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-2

Karl goal not enough to take the lead at the break

FC Bayern dominated the game in the first quarter of an hour, with over 90 per cent possession, but were unable to create any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities. Mainz then had the first dangerous shot: Stefan Bell’s header was deflected by Jae-Sung Lee and struck the aluminium. Bayern’s first goal came in the 20th minute: Harry Kane had an unchallenged header, but failed to beat Daniel Batz in the Mainz box, who was generally in good form

In the 23rd minute, Michael Olise then scored with a shot that Batz was only just able to scramble out. Munich were now in full flow and pressed for the lead, which was to come a little later: it was Karl who got his foot to it from four metres out in the 29th minute after Serge Gnabry had re-focused a slipped Kane cross from the baseline

Kane could have added to his tally a little later, but his side-footed shot in the 35th minute was blocked by Danny da Costa. Instead, Mainz equalised. A free-kick from a half-right position landed perfectly on Potulski’s head, who had created space for himself in the penalty area and fired the ball into the net to make it 1-1 at half-time

Kane saves Bayern

The second half began just as tenaciously as the first had ended, with Mainz continuing to defend with great discipline and hardly allowing any chances. Serge Gnabry should have made it 2-1 after an hour after a strong chip ball from Karl to the five-metre area, but stumbled

Jae-Sung Lee then made it 2-1, heading a superb half-field cross from Stefan Bell past Manuel Neuer into the net to give the Mainz fans a second cheer in the 67th minute

Bayern upped the tempo again in the closing stages, however, and Kane was given the chance to equalize from eleven metres after Potulski brought him down in the penalty area. The England captain made the most of this opportunity in his usual cool manner to salvage a 2-2 draw for his team.