COPENHAGEN: Bayer Leverkusen snatched a 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen in their Champions League opener on Thursday, rescued by a Pantelis Hatzidiakos own goal in stoppage time.
The Danish hosts got the perfect start after nine minutes when Jordan Larsson met Elias Achouri’s cross to score and light up the Parken Stadium.
Leverkusen offered little in the first half, struggling to break down Copenhagen’s defense, while the home side created several chances, with only some fine goalkeeping from Mark Flekken preventing them doubling the lead.
After the break, Leverkusen found more openings but were repeatedly denied by Copenhagen keeper Dominik Kotarski.
But eight minutes from time Leverkusen pulled level from a free kick as Alejandro Grimaldo curled the ball over the wall into the net off the underside of the bar.
The visitors’ relief was short-lived, however, as Robert restored Copenhagen’s lead five minutes later with a precise low header from a cross.
Leverkusen pressed for another equalizer and in stoppage time substitute Claudio Echeverri broke into the box and his attempted cross deflected off Hatzidiakos into the net.
Late own goal rescues Leverkusen in 2-2 draw at Copenhagen
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Late own goal rescues Leverkusen in 2-2 draw at Copenhagen
- The Danish hosts got the perfect start after nine minutes
- Leverkusen offered little in the first half
Substitute Kane scores hat-trick in Bayern’s 5-0 demolition of hosts Stuttgart
- The Bavarians were a goal up but struggling against the aggressive hosts until the introduction of Kane
- Bayern were lucky to go into the break with a one-goal lead thanks to Konrad Laimer
STUTTGART: Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane scored a hat-trick after coming on as second-half substitute to guide Bayern Munich to a 5-0 victory over hosts VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
The Bavarians, who have opened up an 11-point lead at the top, were a goal up but struggling against the aggressive hosts until the introduction of Kane on the hour mark. Stuttgart were also left with 10 men for the last 10 minutes following the dismissal of Lorenz Assignon.
Bayern, who host Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, were lucky to go into the break with a one-goal lead thanks to Konrad Laimer’s 11th minute strike.
Stuttgart first saw Nikolas Nartey’s header that went in ruled narrowly offside and Chema also came agonizingly close to scoring in stoppage time.
Deniz Undav, who has scored six of Stuttgart’s last eight goals as he battles to reclaim his Germany spot ahead of next year’s World Cup, came even closer with a powerful shot in the 59th that Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig tipped over the bar.
The introduction of Kane , however, tipped the balance in the visitors’ favor and the England captain opened his account with a crisp, low drive in the 66th.
Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nuebel then let Bayern substitute Josip Stanisic’ weak shot slip through his hands to make it 3-0 and to make matters worse, Bayern earned an 80th minute penalty following a handball and red card for Assignon, and Kane easily converted it.
The forward completed his hat-trick from a Michael Olize cutback in the 88th to take his league tally to 17 goals and lift the Bundesliga leaders to 37 points, 11 ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, in action against Eintracht Frankfurt later.
