Kane nets brace to help Bayern dash Dortmund championship dreams
Harry Kane netted twice with Joshua Kimmich adding a late decisive goal as Bayern Munich fought back for a 3-2 triumph over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, stretching their Bundesliga lead to 11 points.
Bayern were behind at the interval following a header from Nico Schlotterbeck that gave Dortmund the edge, yet Kane responded with a close-range finish and a spot-kick.
Dortmund restored parity via Daniel Svensson, but Kimmich pounced to fire home from near the line in the dying minutes, positioning Bayern as overwhelming title contenders.
This outcome effectively clinches yet another Bundesliga trophy for the Bavarian powerhouse with just 10 rounds left, and it compounds Dortmunds challenging period after their recent Champions League knockout by Atalanta.
Dortmund have dropped points in only two of their 24 Bundesliga fixtures this term, both defeats against Bayern.
Kanes fourth straight brace in the league elevated his tally to 30 strikes across 24 outings this season.
Bayern had featured in two additional fixtures over the previous 11 days, but Dortmund appeared more lively at the outset while pursuing a win that would narrow the gap to five points.
In the 18th minute, Schlotterbeck caught Josip Stanisic on the leg with his boot studs. Although Bayern called for a sending-off for the German defender, he received only a caution.
The defender featured prominently again shortly after, soaring to connect with a Daniel Svensson delivery from a corner and hand Dortmund the opener.
Dortmund maintained their intensity post-interval, but Bayern equalised unexpectedly with a straightforward move.
Kimmich lofted the ball beyond the Dortmund backline for Serge Gnabry to nod down, allowing Kane an easy tap-in during the 54th minute.
Approaching the 70-minute mark, Stanisic clashed once more with Schlotterbeck, tumbling after the centre-back caught his heel, which awarded Bayern a penalty converted by Kane.
The England skipper has now bagged nine goals in his last five Bundesliga appearances, including four penalties.
Dortmund surged ahead in pursuit of an equaliser, and Marcel Sabitzer delivered a floated centre that Svensson finished neatly to spark renewed optimism in the 83rd minute.
Rather than settling for a stalemate, Bayern pressed for the strike that would virtually lock in the championship.
The breakthrough arrived when Kimmich twisted adeptly to smash the winner with his weaker foot after Dortmund mishandled a Michael Olise delivery, in the 87th minute.
Leverkusen secure draw
Ex-Liverpool stopper Jarell Quansah netted in the 88th minute to rescue a 1-1 stalemate for Bayer Leverkusen against Mainz at home.
Leverkusen had fallen behind to a superb effort from Sheraldo Becker, but Quansah poked the equaliser past the keeper at the near upright.
This result lifted Leverkusen, who hold a postponed match against Hamburg on Wednesday, to within three points of fourth-placed Stuttgart.
Leverkusen seemed fatigued following a gritty goalless Champions League tie with Olympiacos in midweek, which advanced them to the knockout stage for a showdown with Arsenal.
Just prior to the break, Leverkusen full-back Arthur was carried off on a stretcher, seemingly suffering a major knee problem.
In other action, St Paulis revival persisted with a narrow 1-0 success at in-form Hoffenheim, courtesy of Mathias Pereira Lages strike moments before half-time.
Pauli have claimed three victories from their previous four outings to escape the drop zone, whereas third-placed Hoffenheim have managed merely four points across their last four encounters.
Borussia Moenchengladbachs Kevin Diks slotted a penalty in the fourth minute of added time to earn his team a vital 1-0 success versus Union Berlin.
This marked Gladbachs initial win since early January and boosted them three points above the relegation playoff position.
Relegation rivals Werder Bremen also claimed an essential win, defeating bottom side Heidenheim 2-0 at home to climb clear of direct demotion.
The 2004 double champions had earned just four points from 13 matches since their prior success in early November, but prevailed through a Jovan Milosevic goal and a stoppage-time Heidenheim deflection.