Bayern hits form, teen star arrives
Bayern Munich brushed off its recent poor domestic form, throwing down a Champions League marker with an emphatic 4-1 win at Lazio in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg to take a “huge step” towards the quarter-finals.
Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before 17year-old Jamal Musiala scored his first Champions League goal. Musiala, who turns 18 this week, is now the youngest English goalscorer in Champions League history.
A Leroy Sane strike gave Bayern a three-goal halftime cushion at the Stadio Olimpico before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just after the break.
“We are a huge step closer to the quarter-finals,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick told Sky.
Joaquin Correa pulled a goal back early in the second half to give the scoreline some respectability for Lazio.
“We were aggressive from the start and went full throttle,” Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka said after his first appearance since testing positive for COVID-19.
“I am happy to have played in such an awesome game after a difficult few weeks. That was important after we had often been caught napping (in recent games). Things worked well, that was a first good step.”
IT WAS as he stood next to Ali Day on the podium following a third-place finish in Round 2 of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series that Joe Collins had one of many recent “pinch myself” moments.
The first came a day earlier when Collins, 18, stood on the beach at Kingscliff surrounded by the biggest names in the sport, preparing for his maiden Ironman Series race.
Day captured all the headlines when the two-time series champion marked his
comeback with a race win – the first in his triple crown for the weekend – but not far back in fifth was Collins.
The next day he claimed third and stood on the podium beside Day, before a sixth-place finish rounded out an incredible debut weekend for the youngster out of New Plymouth in New Zealand.
“When I was younger and first found out about the series, Ali was hitting top form and he was one of the people I supported. To see him next to me on the podium was a very big thing,” Collins said.
He enters Round 4 on Friday ranked fourth, 11 points shy of Day, who he admits will take plenty of catching.
“I think he (Day) probably wins. But I don’t think he’ll win every race of the series – we won’t let him do that,” Collins said.
While he concedes top spot may be out of his reach, the young Kiwi’s focus is on the private battle he and BMD Northcliffe clubmate Cory Taylor are waging.
Through three rounds Collins boasts 49 points, Taylor has 48.
Taylor, 27, is another Kiwi competitor who crossed the Tasman to pursue his ironman dreams and it is in his footsteps Collins follows.
“He and Max Beattie were both massive influences in why I moved over here,” Collins said.
“To see (Taylor) win a couple of rounds last year and the year before really made it look possible for the younger generation in New Zealand.
“Now we’re battling for top spot among the New Zealanders. But outside of racing we’re very good mates.
“He’s still guiding me.”
Having already exceeded his own lofty expectations to sit fourth heading into Round 4, Collins’ goals remain humble – learn from the experience and maybe snag another podium finish.
“A return to the podium would be nice,” he said.
“But the big thing for me will be using the experience from the previous (rounds) to race better.
“I think all the nerves have worn off now and I’m just excited and ready to go.” teaching and