Luis Diaz scores stoppage-time winner as Bayern Munich come from behind to beat St Pauli 3-1 and extend Bundesliga lead to eight points
LUIS Diaz headed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Bayern Munich recovered from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal with a 3-1 comeback victory over St Pauli on Saturday.
The Colombian, suspended for Wednesday’s loss to Arsenal, nodded in Harry Kane’s cross in the 93rd minute to give Bayern their first lead of the match.
Nicolas Jackson added a fourth-minute injury-time goal to secure the points as Bayern avoided dropping Bundesliga points for only the second time this season.
Andreas Hountondji had stunned the champions by giving lowly St Pauli a sixth-minute lead against the run of play.
Diaz created Bayern’s first-half equaliser for Raphael Guerreiro after both sides had struck the woodwork during an entertaining encounter.
Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer credited his side’s persistence after the match.
“We kept going after we went behind and were unlucky to hit the post three times,” Neuer said.
“The late goals were a relief.”
Earlier on Friday, RB Leipzig’s scoreless draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach ensured Bayern would finish the weekend eight points clear at the Bundesliga summit.
In Saturday’s other key fixture, Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen to leapfrog their opponents into third place.
Aaron Anselmino and Karim Adeyemi scored for Dortmund against a Leverkusen side still recovering from their shock Champions League win at Manchester City.
Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt acknowledged the importance of the victory ahead of Tuesday’s German Cup rematch.
“It was an important match against a good competitor, but it was only one of two,” Brandt told Sky Germany.
“Playing at home will of course be different.”
Elsewhere, Heidenheim scored twice after the 90th minute to snatch a 2-1 win at Union Berlin and climb off the foot of the table.
Promoted Cologne earned a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen thanks to Germany starlet Said El Mala’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Hoffenheim jumped to fifth with a 3-0 home win against Augsburg, who remain winless since early October. – AFP
