Kane on Target as Arsenal, Bayern Draw at Emirates
*Holders City, Madrid grind out another draw in six-goal thriller in Bernabeu
Harry Kane returned to north London with a goal as Arsenal’s Champions League hopes hang in the balance after they fought out a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium last night.
Kane, Tottenham’s record goalscorer, received a predictably hostile reception from Arsenal’s supporters, who saw the Gunners make the perfect start when Bukayo Saka’s low finish put them ahead after only 12 minutes.
Bayern belied their poor form in the Bundesliga to turn the game around before the break as former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry swept home the equaliser six minutes later.
Kane’s moment arrived when William Saliba tripped Leroy Sane at the end of a blistering run after 32 minutes. The England captain stepped forward for the resulting penalty and silenced the taunts with his 15th goal in 20 appearances against Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side were not at their fluent best but substitute Leandro Trossard was the beneficiary of outstanding work by Gabriel Jesus to equalise.
Arsenal felt they should have had a penalty in the final seconds of stoppage time but the referee waved away their appeals when Saka went down as he was challenged by keeper Manuel Neuer.
The second leg in Munich is on Wednesday, 17 April.
Elsewhere, holders Manchester City and Real Madrid shared six goals in a 3-3 thriller to leave their Champions League quarter-final evenly poised after the first leg at the Bernabeu.
Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead in the second minute when Bernardo Silva cleverly snuck a 25-yard free-kick round the wall and past Andriy Lunin.
Two deflected strikes brought 14-time European Cup winners Madrid level. First Eduardo Camavinga’s long-range effort hit Ruben Dias and spun into the far corner of Stefan Ortega’s goal, before Rodrygo got in behind the City defence and poked home via Manuel Akanji’s heel.
City were dominant in possession throughout but lacked quality in the final third – until Phil Foden stepped up.
The England midfielder had been on the edge of the game but found space just outside the area to turn and fire into the top corner to pull City level.
RESULTS
UCL
Arsenal – B’Munich
R’Madrid – Man City
TODAY @8pm
Atletico v Dortmund
PSG v Barcelona
PARIS 2024
S’Africa 0-0 Nigeria
(Nigeria qualify 1-0 agg)
