Harry Kane struck twice in the space of three second-half minutes as Bayern Munich beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 on Wednesday to secure their place in the Champions League last 16.
The victory ensured Bayern joined Arsenal in clinching a top-eight finish in the expanded 36-team league table with a game to spare, sparing them the uncertainty of a two-legged knockout play-off.
Kane broke the deadlock with a powerful header from a corner before immediately winning and converting a penalty to put the hosts firmly in command. The England captain later had the chance to complete a hat-trick but missed a late spot-kick, after Bayern had been reduced to 10 men following Kim Min-jae’s dismissal.
Bayern’s only defeat in all competitions this season remains their Champions League loss at Arsenal, and they have already opened up an 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Kane’s second goal took his tally to 34 for the campaign, helping Bayern reach a remarkable 103 goals from just 29 matches in all competitions.
The hosts were sluggish in the first half, perhaps affected by the absence of their 9,300-strong ultra contingent, with the lower tier closed due to a UEFA sanction imposed for the use of pyrotechnics.
Union SG fashioned the clearest chance of the opening period when Promise David found space inside the area after half an hour, but his header was directed straight at Manuel Neuer with only the Bayern goalkeeper to beat.
Bayern eventually made the breakthrough 52 minutes in from a set-piece. Michael Olise delivered into the six-yard box and Kane peeled away at the near post to nod his side ahead.
Barely a minute later, Kane doubled the lead after being brought down by Union goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, calmly converting from the spot.
Kim, handed a rare start with Dayot Upamecano sidelined by illness, was sent off in the 63rd minute after receiving a second yellow card for pulling back Raul Florucz as the winger broke forward. The dismissal, however, did little to disrupt Bayern’s control.
Kane fired a third penalty against the crossbar with 10 minutes remaining, while Olise later chipped over when through on goal, as Bayern comfortably saw out the win.
AFP
