Mainz 3-4 Bayern Munich: Harry Kane and Michael Olise spark stunning three-goal comeback
Harry Kane and Michael Olise came off the bench to inspire a sensational second-half fightback as newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich overturned a three-goal deficit to beat Mainz 4-3 at the Mewa Arena.
With a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain looming on Tuesday, Vincent Kompany made nine changes to the side that secured a DFB-Pokal final spot in midweek. The gamble looked to have backfired spectacularly as a rampant Mainz side, coached by Urs Fischer, tore through the visitors’ makeshift backline.
Dominik Kohr opened the scoring after 15 minutes, meeting Kaishu Sano’s cross with a crisp volley that flew past Jonas Urbig. Bayern, despite dominating possession, lacked a cutting edge and were soon punished again when Paul Nebel reacted quickest to smash home a rebound after Urbig had parried a fierce Nadiem Amiri strike.
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The first-half humiliation was complete in stoppage time. Another Amiri effort was tipped onto the bar by Urbig, only for Sheraldo Becker to bundle the ball over the line from point-blank range, leaving the champions trailing 3-0 at the interval.
Kompany wasted no time in correcting his course, introducing Kane and Olise at the break, followed shortly by Jamal Musiala. The impact was transformative. The comeback began eight minutes after the restart when Nicolas Jackson, starting in place of the rested regulars, turned home a Konrad Laimer cross to provide a glimmer of hope.
The momentum shifted entirely in the 73rd minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Olise. The former Crystal Palace winger cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a signature curling strike into the far top corner, reducing the gap to a single goal and silencing the home crowd.
Mainz, who are still battling to secure their top-flight status, began to buckle under the relentless pressure. Parity was restored with ten minutes remaining when Olise turned provider, fizzing a ball into the box that Musiala managed to bundle home.
The turnaround—only the second time in Bayern’s storied history they have won after trailing by three at half-time—was completed just three minutes later. Musiala’s low cross was parried by Daniel Batz directly into the path of Kane, who made no mistake from six yards to claim his 34th league goal of a prolific campaign.
The victory ensures Bayern maintain their momentum ahead of their trip to the Parc des Princes, while Mainz remain four points above the relegation play-off spot with three games left to play.
“Everything went wrong in the first half,” Kompany admitted afterwards. “But there was no big analysis at half-time. It was about quality and mentality. The team accepted the fight and threw away any fear. They celebrated as if it were a relegation play-off. I love that.”
