Kane nets hat-trick to send Bayern Munich eight points clear

Harry Kane notched a hat-trick to secure victory for Bayern Munich over Augsburg, leaving them eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Much of the night was frustrating for Bayern as they were held goalless at half time and then, after Kane’s first spot-kick just after the hour mark, could not grab a killer second.

Jamal Musiala had 10 of Bayern’s 31 shots in the match and was denied by opposition goalkeeper Nedilijiko Labrovic on six occasions.

Both spot-kicks came via VAR, the first due to a handball from Mads Pedersen and the second, in injury time, when Kevin Schlotterbeck brought the England striker down, leading to the defender picking up a second yellow card.

Insult to injury for the gutsy Augsburg defence came just before the final whistle when Kane controlled Goretzka’s long ball superbly in the air and then headed home past the fallen goalkeeper.

It was like a lot of Kane’s games for England where for much of the game he didn’t look like scoring, but ultimately when the side were presented with a chance from 12 yards out, he delivered – twice.

He has now scored 25 times from the spot since missing that kick in the World Cup against France – how he will wish he could exchange one of these goals for that one. The England skipper has now scored an incredible 84 in his career.

The last goal then was one which may go on a career highlight reel. Stretching his leg further than his fitness trainer would want from the 31-year-old, he was maybe a little fortunate to see the ball hang in the air from his touch, and allow him the impudence of nodding the ball home past the helpless sprawling goalkeeper.

With 14 goals from 11 games he is three clear as the top scorer in the Bundesliga, but of course it is a major trophy he wants and with Bayer Leverkusen well off the pace, this will surely happen this season.

It was a match which said so much about his character. Yes, his shouting was not quite on, giving the opposition goalkeeper a chance to save his multiple shots but his will was indomitable. If he hadn’t been taken off the field, he’d still have been shooting as the lights in the Allianz Arena went out. We so often marvel at his skills, but this highlighted his perseverance, on a night where things didn’t go for him, and showed why he will be anything but a shooting star and is set to dominate German football for many years to come.

Bayern: Neuer 6; Raphael Guerreiro 6, Kim Min-jae 7, Upamecano 6, Davies 7; Kimmich 6, Goretzka 7; Olise 6, Musiala 8, Coman 7; Kane 8.

Subs: Gnabry 7, Sane 6, Laimer 6, Muller, Boey.

Augsburg: Labrovic 7; Matsima 7, Gouweleeuw 7, Schlotterbeck 5; Wolf 6, Onyeka 6, Rexhbecaj 7, Maier 6, Giannoulis 6; Claude-Maurice 6, Tietz 6.

Subs: Pedersen 5, Komur 6, Essende 6, Koudossou 6, Vargas 6.

50′ OFF THE BAR! Davies with a cross from the left flank and Goretzka lofted a header over the keeper but it just bounced off the top of the crossbar and over.

61′ KANE APPEALS FOR PENALTY! THE REFEREE WILL LOOK AT SIDELINE SCREEN….PENALTY! The ball strikes the horizontally outstretched arm of Pedersen ahead of the England striker at the back post from a corner.

63′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE PEN) 1-0 AUGSBURG! Kane notches his ninth straight penalty for Bayern sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

90′ GNABRY BATTLES TO THE BY-LINE! And then drives the ball across the goal. It looked like Kane should have put the ball away. Or was he fouled? They will check.

90+2′ PENALTY! AND A RED CARD! The referee gives a second spot kick for Bayern….and a second yellow to Schlotterbeck for his contact on Kane’s leg which felled him.

90+2′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE PEN) 2-0 AUGSBURG! A second for Bayern and a second Kane penalty. His 13th goal of the season.

90+5′ GOAL! BAYERN (KANE) 3-0 AUGSBURG! Kane grabs a hat-trick controlling Goretzka’s diagonal ball and then heading home from close range.

• 160 – There has not been a goalless draw in a Bayern Munich Bundesliga game in the last 160 matches.