Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane struck twice to inspire the club to a 4-2 win over Flamengo, sending the German side into the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup on Sunday.
Bayern will now face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.
Despite being backed by a vocal crowd at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Brazilian giants Flamengo fell short after a spirited showing, bowing out of the competition under coach Filipe Luis.
Bayern opened the scoring in just the sixth minute when Joshua Kimmich’s corner was inadvertently turned into his net by Flamengo’s Erick Pulgar.
The Bundesliga champions doubled their lead only four minutes later as Dayot Upamecano won possession high up the pitch and fed Kane, whose deflected strike beat goalkeeper Agustin Rossi.
Flamengo responded with purpose, and winger Luiz Araujo tested Manuel Neuer twice before setting up their opening goal. In the 33rd minute, Araujo’s delivery from the left fell to Gerson, who smashed a thunderous shot beyond Neuer to ignite hopes of a comeback among the 60,000-strong crowd.
However, a poor clearance from Araujo moments before halftime gifted Leon Goretzka the chance to restore Bayern’s two-goal cushion. The midfielder made no mistake, curling a fine strike from a distance to make it 3-1 before the break.
Flamengo clawed one back in the 55th minute when Michael Olise was penalised for handball in the box. Former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho calmly slotted home the spot-kick to bring the score to 3-2.
While the Brazilians showed no lack of endeavour, their attacking edge faded in the final third, in stark contrast to Bayern’s clinical execution.
The result was sealed in the 73rd minute when Konrad Laimer won the ball in midfield, allowing Kimmich to slip Kane through for his second of the night—a typically powerful, low finish to secure Bayern’s passage to the last eight.
