Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring during the German first
division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs Hertha
Berlin on October 4, 2020 in Munich, southern Germany. (Photo by
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP).
Robert Lewandowski netted four goals – including the
decisive added-time penalty – as defending Bundesliga champions
Bayern Munich survived a fight-back by Hertha Berlin to seal a
nervy 4-3 win on Sunday.
Lewandowki, voted European footballer of the year on Friday,
scored twice to put Bayern 2-0 up early in the second half only for
Hertha to score three times to make it 3-3 with time almost up.
However, the Poland hot-shot then converted a 93rd-minute spot
kick to seal the win which lifts Bayern to fourth in the table.
The victory got Bayern back to winning ways after their record
23-match winning streak was ended by a 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim
last Sunday.
Yet the European champions again looked jaded at the Allianz
Arena while Hertha finished the stronger.
Fresh from their 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday
in the German Super Cup, Bayern gave a first start to US junior
international Chris Richards, 20, at right-back.
In the build-up, Bayern announced the signing of defensive
midfielder Marc Roca from Espanyol to replace Thiago Alcantara who
has joined Liverpool. – Hertha fight back –
Bayern made a nervy start as Hertha’s Colombia striker Jhon
Cordoba beat Manuel Neuer on 15 minutes with a fierce strike, but
he was offside.
Thomas Mueller headed the ball in the Hertha net on 36 minutes,
but the VAR ruled he was offside.
Lewandowski first struck on 40 minutes when he fired home the
rebound after Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow had saved his
initial header.
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It was Lewandowski’s 100th Bundesliga goal for Bayern at
Munich’s Allianz Arena.
It was 1-0 at the break, but the Poland star doubled his tally
six minutes into the second half when he turned through 180 degrees
to fire home after Richard’s pass.
Hertha pulled a goal back when Cordoba struck with a header on
59 minutes from a free-kick by Matheus Cunha, who has been called
up by Brazi.
The 21-year-old Cunha then made it 2-2 after dribbling past
Jerome Boateng, then beat David Alaba and Benjamin Pavard before
firing past Neuer on 71 minutes.
Bayern again pulled ahead when Mueller met Alaba’s free-kick and
served up a tap-in for Lewandowski on 85 minutes.
There was still time for Hertha replacement Jessic Ngankam to
header an equaliser past Neuer on 88 minutes.
However, Lewandowski netted the decisive spot kick just before
the whistle after being pulled down by Berlin defender Maximilian
Mittelstaedt. – Augsburg miss top spot –
Earlier, second-placed Augsburg missed the chance to top the
table as they were held to a goalless draw at Wolfsburg, who had a
first-half goal disallowed.
Having beaten Union Berlin and shocked Borussia Dortmund in
their opening German league games, a third straight win would have
sent Augsburg top ahead of RB Leipzig, who routed bottom side
Schalke 4-0 on Saturday.
With coach Heiko Herrlich missing on the sidelines due to a lung
problem, Augsburg’s attack failed to find the net at Wolfsburg, who
have drawn their opening three league games.
The hosts had a first-half goal by midfielder Josip Brekalo
ruled out as the VAR spotted striker Wout Weghorst offside in the
build up.
AFP
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