BERLIN: Harry Kane broke a 60-year record for most goals in a debut season while Jamal Musiala scored twice as Bayern Munich won 5-2 at Darmstadt on Saturday.
With 31 goals in 26 league games since arriving from Spurs in the summer, Kane overtook German legend Uwe Seeler, who scored 30 goals for Hamburg in 1963-64.
Musiala also had an assist in the win, which keeps Bayern's slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title alive, moving them seven points behind Bayer Leverkusen, who play at Freiburg on Sunday.
"We are staying in it. We worked hard to get ourselves some opportunities and we took them," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer, praising "difference makers like Jamal on the pitch."
The goalkeeper was however disappointed his side had conceded two goals against last-placed Darmstadt, saying: "We all need to work on it."
Darmstadt stunned Bayern after 28 minutes, Tim Skarke taking advantage of some sleepy defending by Eric Dier to score and give the home side hope of an incredible upset against the German champions.
Kane would however drag Bayern into the lead before half-time, assisting Musiala's 36th-minute goal before scoring one of his own, rising high to head in a Joshua Kimmich chip in first-half stoppage time.
Musiala added another midway through the second half when he collected a Thomas Mueller throw-in and danced through the box before shooting between the goalkeeper's legs.
As he did last week, Serge Gnabry scored moments after coming off the bench to seal the win.
Bayern's Mathys Tel and Darmstadt's Oscar Vilhelmsson both scored in stoppage time.
In the German capital, Union Berlin beat Werder Bremen 2-1 thanks to a commanding performance from US midfielder Brenden Aaronson, on loan from Leeds.
Aaronson, who was surprisingly left out of the US squad this week, had a hand in two goals in three second-half minutes to give Union the upper hand.
The 23-year-old laid on Yorbe Vertessen's 50th-minute goal, before creating and scoring one of his own with some superb dribbling shortly after.
Mitchell Weiser pulled one back for the visitors but Union held on, recording their fifth win in seven home matches under coach Nenad Bjelica.
"It's been the toughest year of my life," Aaronson told reporters after scoring his second goal in Union colours.
"Going from Leeds and then not playing much here, it's mentally a battle all the time, staying confident."
Augsburg came from a goal down to beat a 10-man Wolfsburg 3-1 away from home, their fourth-straight league win taking them to seventh on the table.
Wolfsburg's Patrick Wimmer scored after just nine minutes but was sent from the field in tears just before half-time for a last-man foul, with Augsburg's Arne Maier scoring from the ensuing free-kick.
Kristijan Jakic scored a second-half double to seal the win, piling more pressure on Niko Kovac's Wolfsburg who have won just one game in 15.
Mainz won 2-0 at home against Bochum to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive. Mainz moved past Cologne, who were thumped 5-1 by Leipzig on Friday, into 16th, the relegation playoff spot.
Promoted Heidenheim drew 1-1 at home with Borussia Moenchengladbach to collect another valuable point and go 10 clear of the relegation spots in their first season in the top division.
Later on Saturday, third-placed Stuttgart travel to neighbours Hoffenheim.
Kane breaks 60-year record and Musiala dazzles in Bayern romp
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Kane breaks 60-year record and Musiala dazzles in Bayern romp
- With 31 goals in 26 league games since arriving from Spurs in the summer, Kane overtook German legend Uwe Seeler, who scored 30 goals for Hamburg in 1963-64
- Musiala also had an assist in the win, which keeps Bayern's slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title alive
Comoros chances at Cup of Nations hit by FIFA decision
- Comoros take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game on Dec. 21
- Comoros have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin
DUBAI: Comoros have had their chances of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations severely impacted by FIFA’s surprise decision to delay the release of their players, said coach Stefano Cusin.
Comoros, who are the smallest nation competing, take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game in Rabat on December 21.
However, their expansive preparation plans have had to be canceled after FIFA changed the date that clubs have to release players to the national teams competing at the finals.
Last week, world football’s governing body announced that clubs need only release players on Dec. 15, seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period prior to a continental championship kickoff.
It has thrown plans for pre-tournament camps and friendlies into disarray for many of the 24 competing nations.
Comoros, competing at the finals for a second time and hoping to replicate the giant-killing havoc they caused in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin.
“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” he told Reuters.
“Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”
Comoros draw all their players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East.
“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added.
“We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”
The dates for the upcoming Cup of Nations from December 21-January 18 were set to avoid any conflict with the Champions League and other European club competitions.
