Harry Kane scored a brace as Bayern Munich advanced to a FIFA World Club Cup quarter-final date with Paris Saint-Germain after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Flamengo at a hot and humid Hard Rock Stadium, as Vincent Kompany’s side ended the Rubro-Negro’s 11-match unbeaten run.
The Brazilians came into this clash with their reputation enhanced after topping Group D and overcoming Chelsea, but it didn’t take long for the Rio de Janeiro outfit to be brought back down to earth after conceding twice in the opening 10 minutes.
Erick Pulgar diverted Joshua Kimmich’s corner into his own net in the sixth minute, before Harry Kane fired home his 40th goal of the season with a clinical long-range left-footed strike which clipped in off the post.
Flamengo responded well and were denied a chance to halve the deficit when Manuel Neuer produced an outstanding save to deny Luiz Araújo, after he latched onto Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s cut-back inside the box.
Aside from the goals, Bayern were looking quite unconvincing, and Filipe Luís’ side deservedly reduced the arrears just past the half-hour mark through Gerson.
The skipper smashed home a ferocious strike which seemed to go straight through Neuer’s grasp, and punished a lackadaisical Bayern side that failed to seize momentum following their electric start.
But the pendulum swung back in favour of the Bundesliga champions courtesy of Leon Goretzka’s expertly-taken effort from distance at the end of an absorbing first half.
