MUNICH, Germany: Harry Kane scored twice in three second-half minutes as Bayern Munich saw off Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Bayern joined Arsenal in sealing a top-eight finish in the 36-team table with a game to spare, avoiding a potential two-legged knockout play-off round.
The six-time European champions sit second in the standings behind Arsenal ahead of their last league-phase outing at PSV Eindhoven next week.
Kane headed in from a corner before winning and converting a penalty to put the hosts firmly in control.
The England captain had a chance for a hat-trick but missed a late spot-kick, after Bayern center-back Kim Min-jae had been dismissed for a second yellow card.
“Coming back into the second half we wanted to show more intensity and I think we did that,” Kane told DAZN.
“We scored at the right times, were a bit unlucky with the red card but even after that when we went down to 10 men we controlled the game well and earned the three points.”
Bayern’s Champions League defeat at Arsenal remains their only loss in all competitions this season, in which they have also already opened up an 11-point lead in the Bundesliga.
Kane’s second goal was his 34th of the campaign, bringing Bayern’s total tally to 103 strikes from 29 games.
Bayern were sluggish in the opening half, perhaps unsettled by the absence of their 9,300-strong ultra contingent, with the lower stand closed due to a UEFA sanction for setting off pyrotechnics.
“We’re used to that from the Covid period, of course, but fundamentally we always want the fans there in a sold-out stadium — unfortunately it wasn’t possible today,” Bayern captain Manuel Neuer told DAZN.
The best chance of the opening half fell to Belgian champions Union SG.
With half an hour played, an unmarked Promise David got away from the Bayern defense and had just Neuer to beat, but headed his effort directly at the goalkeeper.
Bayern needed a set-piece to break the deadlock with 52 minutes gone.
Michael Olize lofted the ball into the six-yard area and Kane found space at the near post to head his side in front.
One minute later, Kane was felled by Union ‘keeper Kjell Scherpen and stepped up to double Bayern’s lead.
Kim, handed a rare start with Dayot Upamecano out sick, was sent off in the 63rd minute, picking up a second yellow for yanking Raul Florucz’s arm as the winger went on the attack.
But the red card did not disrupt Bayern’s flow.
Kane uncharacteristically blasted a penalty against the bar with 10 minutes left, while Olize chipped another opportunity over with just Scherpen to beat.
Kane double fires Bayern into Champions League last 16
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Kane double fires Bayern into Champions League last 16
- The six-time European champions sit second in the standings behind Arsenal ahead of their last league-phase outing at PSV Eindhoven next week
Ferreira sets sights on North America Cup
RIYADH: Ricardo Ferreira dominated last weekend’s Saudi Cup qualifying card and hopes to take this Friday’s feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with Man of the Night (FR) in the $40,000 (SR150,000) North America Cup.
Carrying the same colors of Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah as when landing the Saudi Cup qualifier and the 2000 Guineas on Saturday as part of a four-timer, Ferreira will partner the veteran nine-year-old who was a Ministry of Culture Cup winner last February.
The owner is also represented by Muhammad Al-Daham’s mount Ajwadi (GB) in the 12-strong field over 1,600 meters, with the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz sending out the Sami Alharab-trained Annafel (USA), who steps up in grade having got off the mark in handicap company last time.
A full field of 20 has been declared for the $40,000 UK Cup over 1,800 meters in which Ferreira rides Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah’s Pretty Flag (IRE), whose most recent success came in the domestic Group 2 Prince Sultan Ben Abdulaziz Cup in March.
Red Stable is doubly represented with Al Abjar (IRE) and the top-rated Almaan (USA), with the rival White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz also having two runners in the shape of Electability (USA) and the Camilio Ospina-ridden Faal Khair (USA).
Causeway (USA) makes a quick reappearance in the race under champion jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi after taking sixth behind Bolide Porto (IRE) in the Neom Turf Cup qualifier – the Listed Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup — last weekend.
The other feature on Friday is the $40,000 Ministry of Media Cup over the shorter 1,400 meters and Ferreira could gain feature as he gets aboard Red Stable runner and joint top-rated Latin America Cup winner Jahdoon (KSA).
His main rival from his 19 opponents could be Abdullah Al-Fairouz’s mount for the White Stable, Lilaelem (KSA), who carries the same rating and is unexposed as the winner of three of his seven starts but drops back from 1,600 meters.
Zefzaf (USA) landed last weekend’s 1351 Turf Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Saudia and his form should be boosted as the runner-up Love De Vega (IRE) is a clear pick in the 10-runner $32,000, 1,200 meters open that kicks off Friday’s card.
The Red and White stables should fight out the finish in the $32,000 1,351 meters sprint fielding four of the 10 runners with the latter represented by Fouj (USA) and last weekend’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Nova second Jeddah Beach (USA).
However, Red Stable could pack a punch with the seventh from that race Hajes (GB) and Ferreira’s mount Fearnot (IRE), who makes his KSA debut after being sold for 500,000 guineas to Najd Stud / Archdale Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Sales last October, having raced in the UK for Clive Cox where he was a three-time winner from eight starts.
Saturday’s feature is the $40,000 Aseer Region Governorate Cup for three-year-olds over 1,400 meters, in which Ferreira again holds claims for the Red Stable with the once-rated winner Gaab (KSA), who was a tidy winner for the rider on New Year’s Day.
