BERLIN: Harry Kane headed in a stoppage-time equalizer to avoid Bayern Munich’s first defeat of the season but a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin ended their record winning start across all competitions.
Union thought they had won it with Danilho Doekhi’s second goal in the 83rd minute but Kane headed in the leveller. Bayern top the Bundesliga on 28 points, six ahead of RB Leipzig, who lost 3-1 at Hoffenheim. Borussia Dortmund are third on 21.
Bayern, who had made it 16 victories from 16 games with a 2-1 win at Champions League holders Paris St. Germain 2-1 on Tuesday — a record for Europe’s top five leagues — looked to have run out of steam against the hard-working Berliners.
The result left them one win short of their own league record of 10 straight victories at the start of the 2015/16 season.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead through Ilyas Ansah’s ninth-minute header but the fans were bitterly disappointed after the referee ruled it marginally offside following a VAR review.
They still had the upper hand and earned a deserved lead in the 27th when Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer let Doekhi’s weak shot slip through his hands and under his body. It was the first time Bayern had conceded a first- half goal and the first time they were trailing in the Bundesliga this season.
Luis Diaz, who had scored twice but was also sent off against PSG, drew them level after playing a superb one-two with Josip Stanisic, sliding to keep the ball in play and curling a shot from near the sideline into the top far corner.
The Colombian should have scored again for the champions in the 45th after he was sent through by Kane but he missed the target with only the keeper to beat.
It was the hosts who scored again in the 83rd when with Dutchman Doekhi volleyed in after Kane failed to clear a free kick. The England captain, however, made amends with his 13th league goal of the season to rescue a point for the visitors.
Kane nets late equalizer but Bayern winning run ends with draw at Union
https://arab.news/24pbz
Kane nets late equalizer but Bayern winning run ends with draw at Union
- Union thought they had won it with Danilho Doekhi’s second goal in the 83rd minute
- Kane headed in the leveller
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 countdown begins ahead of Jan. 3 start
- * Redesigned course introduces fresh challenges that will raise the intensity of competition
- * Event highlights Kingdom’s aims of becoming a global leader in motorsport, says Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, SAMF chairman
JEDDAH: The countdown for Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026, one of the world’s toughest rally events, has begun with less than a month remaining before the seventh consecutive edition hosted in the Kingdom gets underway.
The rally will take place from Jan. 3-17 under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport. It will be organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and promoted by the Saudi Motorsport Company.
Global attention will be focused on the rally as competitors prepare for a gruelling test across Saudi Arabia’s vast and varied terrain.
The upcoming edition is set to be one of the most distinctive yet, featuring a new route that will give competitors the chance to experience the Kingdom’s natural beauty, varied landscapes and historic sites.
The redesigned course introduces fresh challenges that will raise the intensity of competition, adding excitement throughout every stage.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, said: “The Dakar Rally is more than just a race; it is part of the Kingdom’s ambitious journey toward becoming a global leader in motorsport.”
This year’s rally marked a pivotal moment for Saudi motorsport when Yazeed Al-Rajhi became the first Saudi driver to claim the title in the cars category.
“It’s a milestone we are all proud of and hope to see repeated next year,” Prince Khalid said.
The SAMF chairman added: “What makes us especially proud this year is the rising number of Saudi drivers taking part, a clear indication of the success of our talent-development initiatives and next-generation programs. These achievements are the result of national efforts we all take pride in.”
Dakar Saudi Arabia 2026 will welcome 812 competitors representing 69 countries, competing with 433 vehicles across eight categories: Ultimate B, Ultimate, Stock, Challenger, Side-by-Side, Trucks, in addition to motorbikes and quad bikes. The rally will cover a total distance of 7,999 km, including 4,845 km of timed special stages.
Competition begins on Jan. 3, with a 23 km prologue stage in Yanbu, followed by stage 1 on Jan. 4 over 305 km starting and finishing in Yanbu.
Stage 2 will take place on Jan. 5 from Yanbu to AlUla (400 km), with stage 3 held in AlUla on Jan. 6 (422 km). Stage 4 follows on Jan. 7 from AlUla to the Marathon Camp (451 km).
Stage 5 runs on Jan. 8 from the Marathon Camp to Hail (372 km), and stage 6 on Jan. 9 from Hail to Riyadh (336 km).
Jan. 10 will be a rest day for the competitors in Riyadh.
Action continues Jan. 11 with stage 7 from Riyadh to Wadi Al-Dawasir (462 km), followed by stage 8 on Jan. 12 in Wadi Al-Dawasir (481 km). Stage 9 will run on Jan. 13 January toward the Marathon Camp (410 km). The rally moves on to stage 10 on Jan. 14 from the Marathon Camp to Bisha (421 km), then stage 11 on Jan. 15 from Bisha to Al-Hanakiyah (347 km).
Stage 12 follows on Jan. 16 January from Al-Hanakiyah to Yanbu (310 km), before the event concludes with the 13th and final stage in Yanbu on Jan. 17, covering 105 km.
All distances listed refer to timed special stages.
