LEVERKUSEN: Robert Andrich scored with the last kick of the match to extend Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run to a 46th game this season with a 2-2 home draw against Stuttgart on Saturday as Harry Kane closed in a Bundesliga goals record.

With champions Leverkusen facing their first loss of the season in any competition trailing 2-1 late in stoppage time, Andrich hammered in a loose ball to equalise in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The strike keeps Leverkusen’s remarkable streak of late goals alive, with Xabi Alonso’s side doing the same at Borussia Dortmund in the seventh minute of injury time for a 1-1 draw last week.

Two goals in the space of nine minutes to start the second half from Chris Fuehrich and Deniz Undav put Stuttgart on course, with Amine Adli pulling one back after 61 minutes.

Leverkusen built pressure but could not break through, putting their hopes of becoming the first team to go a full Bundesliga season without defeat in doubt.

But they then won a free kick and Florian Wirtz curled the ball into the box, Andrich snapping up a rebound to score.

Alonso’s side have now won or equalised in stoppage time 10 times this season in all competitions.

Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to set a new personal record for goals in a season.

Kane scored in each half, finishing off a tearing Konrad Laimer run and converting a penalty, to raise his league tally to 35 goals in 31 games.

Kane is now six goals shy of Robert Lewandowski’s all-time single-season Bundesliga goals record from 2020/21. He has hit a personal best of 42 goals in all competitions this campaign.

The England captain’s goals came either side of a Hugo Ekitike stunner, a day after the Frenchman became a permanent Frankfurt player.

Dortmund, Germany’s other Champions League semi-finalist, had a setback ahead of hosting Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday, being thoroughly outclassed in a 4-1 defeat at Leipzig.

England winger Jadon Sancho curled an excellent shot from the edge of the box into the top right corner to give Dortmund the lead.

Jolted to life, Leipzig equalised almost immediately, Lois Openda turning in a superb Xavi Simons cross for his 24th goal of the season.

Leipzig then scored two quick-fire goals either side of half-time. Benjamin Sesko pounced on a rebound just before the break and Openda found Mohamed Simakan early in the second.

Christoph Baumgartner added a fourth with 10 minutes remaining to send Leipzig five points clear of Dortmund in fourth, the final guaranteed Champions League spot -- although Germany are on track for five places next season.

Werder Bremen won 3-0 away at Augsburg with goals from Romano Schmid and Olivier Deman and a Marvin Ducksch penalty.

Wolfsburg also took a major step towards securing top-flight football, scoring two goals in the final minutes to come from behind and beat 10-man Freiburg 2-1.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024