The Japan Times - Kane helps Bayern past Leipzig into German Cup semis

Already on the wrong side of two Bayern thumpings this season, Leipzig were much improved but the hosts grabbed hold of the match with two goals in four second-half minutes.

Bayern join defending champions Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg in the last four of this season's competition.

Kane's penalty was his 39th goal in all competitions for Bayern this season, while Diaz's goal was his fifth in his past three matches.

Winners of this competition a record 20 times, 14 more than any other club, Bayern had failed to make it past the quarter-finals since 2020, when they beat Leverkusen in the final.

Leipzig had won two of the past four German Cups but Bayern had form over the visitors this season, winning their two Bundesliga clashes by a combined score of 11-1.

Leipzig pressured the hosts early and were celebrating a goal after just four minutes, but an acrobatic Christoph Baumgartner strike was disallowed for a narrow offside.

Bayern immediately made the most of the let-off, Kane forcing a last-ditch clearance from Ridle Baku with the Leipzig goalkeeper laying on the turf.

The home side gradually wrestled control of the match and were unlucky not to take the lead with 57 minutes gone when Leipzig 'keeper Maarten Vandevoordt denied Serge Gnabry with a stunning save.

Bayern were in front just five minutes later, Kane converting from the spot after Vandevoordt felled an advancing Josip Stanisic in the box.

Kane's spot-kick, his fifth goal versus Leipzig this season, was his 12th penalty in all competitions this campaign.

Bayern's goals this season have come in bursts and the Bavarians scored again just four minutes later, when Michael Olise found Diaz on the counter to help book a spot in the final four.

The German Cup final will be held at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 23.

K.Nakajima--JT