Luis Diaz and Nicholas Jackson found the net in stoppage time, helping Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich turn the tide and secure a 3-1 victory against strong contenders St. Pauli.
After suffering a defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek, Bayern was caught off guard early when Burnley’s Andreas Fountongi put St. Pauli ahead just six minutes into the match.
Just before halftime, Rafael Guerreiro leveled the score, benefitting from a clever setup by Diaz. With Bayern struggling to find a winner, Diaz struck again in the third minute of stoppage time.
Jackson rounded off the scoreline three minutes later, solidifying Bayern’s eight-point lead at the top of the table following Leipzig’s 0-0 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday.
Despite their early setback, Bayern appeared to be seeking at least a point, with three players including Harry Kane hitting the woodwork and their attempts cleared off the line.
Conrad Reimer lost possession deep in his own half to Matthias Pereira Lage, who had his pass expertly played through by Houn Dong-ji, leaving Kim Min-jae trailing and allowing the ball to sneak past Manuel Neuer at the near post.
A quiet finish was their only offensive contribution after Houn Dong-ji, who limped off just 18 minutes in, but St. Pauli was content to defend with a 4-2 setup and look for chances on the counter.
Bayern gained momentum, with teenager Lennart Karl, known for his goal against Arsenal, almost finding the net as he hit the post with a curling shot.
Guerreiro’s goal, coming just a minute before halftime, was well-deserved. Kane’s shot from a tight angle went off target, while Tom Bischoff’s deflected shot also hit the post.
The equalizer was largely thanks to Diaz’s quick thinking, as he managed to roll the ball back to Guerreiro while enduring pressure, allowing him to score with his first attempt.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany bolstered the attack by substituting full-back Reimer for Michael Olysse at the start of the second half, yet St. Pauli maintained solid defensive control.
Bayern expressed two penalty appeals and sent Kane close to scoring, only for him to be tackled by Arkadiusz Pirka just before he could shoot. Shortly after, Kane again struck the post, and his header from a corner was cleared off the line as St. Pauli held firm in the closing minutes.
It seemed Bayern would leave the Allianz Arena with a hard-fought draw, but in stoppage time, Diaz capitalized on a loose ball from Joshua Kimmich to head in the decisive goal.
Jackson then added insurance by calmly slotting the ball past St. Pauli goalkeeper Nicolas Vasili after Serge Gnabry intercepted it from Eric Smith, sealing the victory for Bayern.
As soccer fans, the late comeback underscores Bayern’s resilience and highlights their championship pedigree, making their pursuit for the title even more thrilling. This match illustrates the unpredictable nature of the Bundesliga, reminding fans that anything can happen in the final moments of a match.
