England captain Harry Kane delivered a standout performance as Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors on June 20, advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage with one group game remaining.
Kane broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, slotting home from close range after sustained pressure from the German giants. However, Boca Juniors responded early in the second half with a fine curling effort from Miguel Merentiel to level the score.
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With just six minutes left, Kane turned provider, setting up Michael Olise for the winner. The former Crystal Palace winger calmly side-footed his shot into the net from the edge of the box, sealing Bayern’s progression.
“It was a big performance from the guys,” Kane told DAZN after being named Player of the Match. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy in a hostile environment, so it’s great to get the goal and secure qualification.”
He added, “This is a massive tournament against the best teams in the world, but our focus is on ourselves. We have to compete at our highest level, and so far, so good.”
Bayern now need just a point against Benfica in their final Group B match to finish top, potentially setting up a last-16 clash with Chelsea if the Premier League side finishes second in their group. Chelsea currently sit second after a 3-1 loss to Flamengo on Friday.
The only concern for Bayern was an injury to substitute Jamal Musiala, who limped off in the second half. The extent of the Germany midfielder’s issue remains unclear.
For Boca Juniors, the defeat ended a nine-match unbeaten streak for South American teams in the tournament. The Argentine side still have a slim chance of advancing but would need a heavy Benfica loss and a significant goal swing in their favor.
