Harry Kane delivered a dramatic late winner as Bayern Munich survived a scare to beat Wehen Wiesbaden 3-2 in the German Cup on Wednesday, avoiding a potential shock in the first round.
Kane had already opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after Wiesbaden defender Ryan Johansson brought down Bayern fullback Sacha Boey. It was Kane’s 90th goal for Bayern in his 99th appearance across all competitions, following a hat trick against Leipzig in the Bundesliga last week. Michael Olise then doubled Bayern’s lead in the 50th minute on a loose ball, but Wiesbaden hit back, Fatih Kaya burning through to level the score on a quick counter shortly after.
Kane had the chance to put the tie to bed with another spot kick after being fouled, but Wiesbaden goalkeeper Florian Stritzel saved both the England captain’s penalty and his follow-up header. As extra time loomed, Josip Stanisic delivered a cross from deep that Kane rose to head home in the fourth minute of five added on to seal a 3-2 victory.
The German Cup has been Bayern’s least successful competition in recent years. Since lifting the trophy in 2020, Bayern has failed to progress past the quarterfinals and has exited in the second round in three of the last five seasons.
This win over Wiesbaden capped a dramatic night in the first round, with Werder Bremen the notable exception for the Bundesliga sides, losing to second-tier Arminia Bielefeld to miss out on the second round.
What this means for Bayern
– Bayern navigated a tricky test and kept their cup hopes alive, despite overcoming a late scare.
– Kane’s continued form is a bright spot, combining regular goal scoring with leadership in high-stakes knockout settings.
– The match underscored the cup’s unpredictability and Bayern’s willingness to chase games with urgency.
Summary
Harry Kane’s late headed winner secured Bayern Munich a 3-2 victory over Wehen Wiesbaden in the German Cup after a see-saw match that also featured a Kane penalty saved and Wiesbaden’s equalizer. The result keeps Bayern in the competition and highlights Kane’s ongoing goalscoring contribution amid a season of high stakes.
Positive note
Despite a shaky moment from the penalties, Bayern showed resilience, with Kane’s late, decisive strike reaffirming the team’s fighting spirit and depth as they push into the next round.
If you’d like, I can add a brief side-bar with Kane’s recent goal-scoring run and a quick look at Bayern’s upcoming fixtures to help readers follow the team’s momentum.