Harry Kane went from villain to hero in Bayern Munich’s dramatic DFB-Pokal clash against third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden. After missing a crucial penalty, the England captain struck a late header to seal a nervy 3-2 win and spare Vincent Kompany’s side a major embarrassment.
Bayern Munich were given a scare in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal as Harry Kane produced a dramatic late winner to edge out third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden in a 3-2 thriller.
Vincent Kompany named a strong lineup, with Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz all starting in attack. As expected, Bayern controlled possession from the outset and thought they should have had a penalty early when a Wiesbaden defender handled inside the area, but the referee waved play on.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Olise was brought down in the box, leaving Kane to convert from the spot with his usual composure. That strike marked his 90th goal in just 99 appearances for the Bavarians.
Bayern doubled their lead ten minutes after the restart through Olise, who capped off a tidy team move with a sharp finish inside the area. At that stage, the Bundesliga champions looked on course for a comfortable passage to the next round.
But football rarely follows the script. Wiesbaden captain Fatih Kaya stunned the visitors with a rapid brace midway through the second half, exposing Bayern’s defensive frailties. Both goals came from lapses at the back, as Bayern’s defenders were caught flat-footed and Wiesbaden suddenly sensed an upset.
Kane then had the chance to restore Bayern’s lead when he won another penalty, but Wiesbaden goalkeeper Florian Stritzel produced heroics with a triple save before a desperate clearance on the line kept the scores level.
Just when extra-time loomed, Bayern’s captain rose to the occasion. In the dying minutes, Kane connected with Josip Stanišić’s inch-perfect cross, guiding a powerful header past Stritzel to secure Bayern’s escape. Relief, rather than celebration, swept through the away end.
Kaya’s Bravery, Bayern’s Nerves
While Kane ultimately decided the tie, the evening belonged in many ways to Fatih Kaya, who almost inspired a historic cup shock. His tireless performance and clinical finishing epitomized Wiesbaden’s fighting spirit.
For Bayern, however, alarm bells were ringing. Their backline’s complacency allowed a modest third-tier side to claw back from two goals down — something that will not sit well with Kompany as he seeks to tighten defensive discipline ahead of tougher challenges.
What’s Next for Bayern?
Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga action this weekend with an away clash against Augsburg, where Kompany will expect a far more controlled display. Kane, meanwhile, will look to build on his heroic — and slightly chaotic — cup night as he continues to prove decisive in critical moments.
