Harry Kane lauded Luis Diaz’s late “moment of magic,” which proved decisive as Bayern Munich ousted Real Madrid to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.
With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Bayern found themselves trailing multiple times during the opening half as Real Madrid, the record 15-time champions, delivered a typically robust performance on the European stage.
The aggregate score stood at 4-4 when Diaz found the net in the 89th minute, propelling Bayern ahead, followed by Michael Olise scoring again in stoppage time.
Bayern will now meet reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals after clinching a 4-3 victory on the night and progressing 6-4 on aggregate.
“Even in the last 20 minutes, I felt we were the team looking to create opportunities,” Kane shared with the media.
“They seemed to tire a bit, and sometimes it just takes a moment—a moment of brilliance, an extraordinary finish or a superb pass.
“In this instance, we had two magnificent finishes from Lucho (Diaz) and Michael (Olise) to seal the game for us, and that’s what the Champions League is all about.
“At times, you can dominate a match and still not win, so it’s great to come through this one successfully.
Kane attributed his team’s resilience as a key factor in overcoming Madrid.
“The rollercoaster of emotions we experienced in the first half was quite something,” Kane remarked.
“We remained focused and patient, especially in the second half, knowing we would gather momentum as the match progressed.
“This season, we’ve been particularly strong in the final 10-15 minutes, and that’s exactly what played out today. We capitalised on our chances right when it mattered.
Kane’s strike in the first half marked him as the first English player in a top-five European league since the 1930-31 season to score 50 goals across all competitions in one season.
“This achievement is a testament to the tremendous effort from the entire team, not just me,” Kane commented to TNT.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates, and for me, it’s all about maintaining this form.
“We have six weeks left in our Bayern journey, and with the World Cup approaching for England this summer, I’m keen to stay in top shape and continue supporting the team.
Bayern’s manager, Vincent Kompany, stated his squad is prepared to face PSG.
“We have more belief in ourselves than ever,” Kompany asserted.
“We fought till the very end, never giving in after two challenging matches against a formidable Real Madrid side.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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