Bayern Beat Mainz 2-1 as Kane Sets Up Both Goals and Neuer Limps Off on Record Day

Bayern Munich beat Mainz 2-1 at the MEWA Arena on Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Bundesliga. Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring in the 14th minute and 18 year old Lennart Karl made it 2-0 in the 57th minute. Harry Kane provided the assist for both goals. Phillip Tietz scored a late stoppage time consolation for Mainz, but Bayern held on for the win, Reuters reported.

The result kept Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga. Bayern are level with Borussia Dortmund on 21 points from nine games and stay ahead on goal difference. The win also extended Bayern's unbeaten away run in the league to 31 games.

Kane creates both Bayern goals

Kane did not score in Mainz, but he decided the match as a creator. His pass set up Kimmich for the early opener, a goal that settled Bayern after a fast start from the home side. When Mainz pushed higher in the second half, Kane set up Karl for the second goal. The teenager finished in the 57th minute to give Bayern a cushion they would need in the closing minutes.

Karl's goal mattered because the game was still open at 1-0. Mainz had already put the ball in the net once in the first half, only for the effort to be ruled out. A second Bayern goal changed the final phase. Mainz could attack with nothing to lose, but Bayern could defend a two goal lead until Tietz scored late in stoppage time.

Record day turns sour for Neuer

Manuel Neuer became Bayern's oldest player on Saturday. At 40 years and 225 days, he overtook Bernd Dreher as the oldest player to appear for the club. The record did not bring a clean or comfortable afternoon.

With Bayern leading 1-0, Neuer was left flailing at a cross and Mainz midfielder Lee Jae-Sung put the ball in the net. The effort was ruled out for offside, so Bayern kept their lead. Soon after, Neuer was forced off before half time with a recurrence of a foot injury. Jonas Urbig, 23, replaced him in goal and played the rest of the match.

Neuer was already on the way back

The injury is a fresh concern because Neuer had only just returned to regular action. He had missed four games with the foot injury. He then played twice since the Augsburg fixture and returned in midweek for the 2-0 Champions League win at Atletico Madrid.

Bayern now have to wait on the same foot problem again. The club came through the match in Mainz with three points, but they finished it without their captain in goal. Urbig completed the game and Bayern protected the lead, apart from the late Tietz goal that cut the score to 2-1 in stoppage time.

For Mainz, the late goal was only consolation. Tietz scored after Bayern had built their lead through Kimmich and Karl, and there was no time left for a second. For Bayern, the facts of the day were mixed. They stayed top of the league, they stretched a long unbeaten away run, Kane set up both goals, and their record breaking goalkeeper left the field injured before the break.