Kane rescues Bayern after Wehen fightback in late DFB-Pokal drama
This cup tie had everything: a fast start, a lost lead, and a stoppage-time gut punch. Bayern Munich beat Wehen Wiesbaden 3-2 on August 27, 2025, but they needed Harry Kane’s 90+4' winner to escape. The record holders were two up and cruising, then suddenly level and rattled, before their captain bailed them out at the death.
It started smoothly for the visitors. Kane tucked away a 16' penalty to settle nerves and set the tone. Bayern moved the ball with control after that, and when Michael Olise made it 2-0 on 51', it looked like a routine first-round job. Wehen had worked hard off the ball and kept their shape, but Bayern were finding the spare man and leaning on Kane’s hold-up play to keep the press at bay.
Then the whole mood flipped in six minutes. Fatih Kaya struck on 64' to jolt the tie back to life, and by 70' he had a second. Suddenly it was 2-2, the home crowd were on their feet, and Bayern were back under pressure. The Bundesliga giants, who had been comfortable for an hour, were second to the loose balls and a step slow tracking runners. Cup football does that—one goal changes belief, and belief changes everything.
Bayern reset. They slowed the game, recycled possession, and tried to pull Wehen’s back line around with quick switches. Wehen, emboldened, picked their moments to break. The final stretch felt edgy: half-chances at both ends, a scramble in the Bayern box, then a scramble in Wehen’s. And then, deep into stoppage time, Kane found the gap and finished, the kind of calm touch he’s built a career on. Relief for the visitors. Heartbreak for Wehen.
- 16' — Harry Kane scores from the spot for 0-1.
- 51' — Michael Olise doubles the lead, 0-2.
- 64' — Fatih Kaya pulls one back, 1-2.
- 70' — Kaya again, 2-2.
- 90+4' — Kane wins it late, 2-3.
The story here is not a Bayern collapse, but how fast a cup tie can turn. At 0-2, the favorite usually sees it out. Wehen refused to follow that script. Kaya’s brace came from sharp movement and quick decisions in the box, and his timing dragged the game into a place where nerves matter. Bayern’s response—regaining control and still pushing for a winner—was the difference between a shock exit and a narrow escape.
For Bayern, the good news is obvious: they’re through. Kane’s two goals reinforce what he gives them when games get tight—penalty-area poise and the patience to wait for one more chance. Olise’s finish on 51' also stands out. He timed his run well and hit cleanly, the sort of moment that shows why he’s trusted to add punch from wide areas. The concern? That six-minute wobble, where a steady night turned chaotic, will bother the staff on the ride home.
Wehen deserve plenty of credit. Down two to a heavyweight, they didn’t fold. Kaya was relentless, but he had help—runners from midfield, committed pressing, and clear belief. That’s the blueprint for underdogs in this competition: stay compact, ride out the big spells, and strike when the favorite’s rhythm slips. On another night, this goes to extra time and anything can happen.
There’s also a broader point about early-season cup ties. Managers juggle rhythm, rotation, and risk. You want minutes for key players, but you also want a clean, low-stress win. Bayern got the minutes and the win, not the clean part. Still, for a club measured by trophies, progress is the only line that matters on the night. Performances can be fixed on the training pitch. Elimination can’t.
This one will sit in two very different memory boxes. For Wehen, it’s proof they can push a giant to the edge, and a reminder that their forwards can hurt high-level defenses when they get the service. For Bayern, it’s a warning wrapped in three points’ worth of relief: switch off for ten minutes, and the gap between tiers looks smaller than you think.
The big picture and what comes next
Bayern’s DFB-Pokal history is rich, and that comes with a target on their back in every round. Nights like this underline why the competition is loved in Germany—the favorite is never comfortable for long. Kane’s late finish keeps their season’s trophy hunt on track. The takeaway is simple: protect leads better, manage momentum swings faster, and keep the front line ruthless.
Wehen, meanwhile, walk away with something to build on. They came back from two down against a top side and found a goalscorer in form. Kaya’s brace wasn’t a fluke; it was smart movement, confidence, and timing. If they bring that edge into the league, this performance could be a turning point in their campaign.
For both teams, August cup football is about setting habits. Bayern’s habit, as ever, is finding a way. Wehen’s habit, after this, should be refusing to go quietly. The scoreboard says 2-3. The night said a bit more than that.
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