BSS
  28 Apr 2024, 10:23

Leverkusen keep unbeaten streak alive, Kane eyes Bundesliga goal record

LEVERKUSEN, Germany, April 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Robert Andrich scored with
the last kick of the match to extend Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten run to a
46th game this season with a 2-2 home draw against Stuttgart on Saturday as
Harry Kane closed in a Bundesliga goals record.

With champions Leverkusen facing their first loss of the season in any
competition trailing 2-1 late in stoppage time, Andrich hammered in a loose
ball to equalise in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The strike keeps Leverkusen's remarkable streak of late goals alive, with
Xabi Alonso's side doing the same at Borussia Dortmund in the seventh minute
of injury time for a 1-1 draw last week.

Two goals in the space of nine minutes to start the second half from Chris
Fuehrich and Deniz Undav put Stuttgart on course, with Amine Adli pulling one
back after 61 minutes.

Leverkusen built pressure but could not break through, putting their hopes of
becoming the first team to go a full Bundesliga season without defeat in
doubt.

But they then won a free kick and Florian Wirtz curled the ball into the box,
Andrich snapping up a rebound to score.

Alonso's side have now won or equalised in stoppage time 10 times this season
in all competitions.

"We tried until the end," Alonso told Sky. "That first goal from Amine gave
us belief -- and gave us a push."

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness said the loss was "hard to believe -- in
our view, it was very unlucky."

- Kane targets Lewandowski -

Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to set
a new personal record for goals in a season.

Kane scored in each half, finishing off a tearing Konrad Laimer run and
converting a penalty, to raise his league tally to 35 goals in 31 games.

Kane is now six goals shy of Robert Lewandowski's all-time single-season
Bundesliga goals record from 2020/21. He has hit a personal best of 42 goals
in all competitions this campaign.

The England captain's goals came either side of a Hugo Ekitike stunner, a day
after the Frenchman became a permanent Frankfurt player.

Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller said his side was "in a good flow", saying
since getting past Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals "we've been
getting better, we've got a grip on things".

Despite the victory, which solidified Bayern's chances of a second-placed
finish, both Laimer and defender Matthijs de Ligt were subbed off with injury
just days before Tuesday's home Champions League semi-final against Real
Madrid.

Dortmund, Germany's other Champions League semi-finalist, had a setback ahead
of hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, being thoroughly outclassed in a
4-1 defeat at Leipzig.

England winger Jadon Sancho curled an excellent shot from the edge of the box
into the top right corner to give Dortmund the lead.

Jolted to life, Leipzig equalised almost immediately, Lois Openda turning in
a superb Xavi Simons cross for his 24th goal of the season.

Leipzig then scored two quick-fire goals either side of half-time. Benjamin
Sesko pounced on a rebound just before the break and Openda found Mohamed
Simakan early in the second.

Christoph Baumgartner added a fourth with 10 minutes remaining to send
Leipzig five points clear of Dortmund in fourth, the final guaranteed
Champions League spot -- although Germany are on track for five places next
season.

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said "like so often this season, we gifted
the opponent too many goals".

Werder Bremen won 3-0 away at Augsburg with goals from Romano Schmid and
Olivier Deman and a Marvin Ducksch penalty.

Wolfsburg also took a major step towards securing top-flight football,
scoring two goals in the final minutes to come from behind and beat 10-man
Freiburg 2-1.