Bayern ease past Cottbus 3-1 into German Cup second round
BERLIN, (Reuters) - Holders Bayern Munich eased past fourth tier club Energie Cottbus 3-1 with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Kingsley Coman and Leon Goretzka yesterday to move into the German Cup second round.
The Bavarians, who kick off their Bundesliga season on Friday against Hertha Berlin, should have scored several more after twice hitting the woodwork in the first half and missing plenty of other chances.
Bayern, who had progressed in each of the last 30 German Cup away games before Monday, went ahead when Poland striker Lewandowski volleyed in from close range on the rebound after Coman’s header was blocked in the 32nd minute.
With Cottbus largely boxed into their own half it was only a matter of time before Bayern scored again and Coman, who had hit the crossbar late in the first half, made amends in the 65th, shaking off his marker and firing in a low shot from 18 metres.
Substitute Goretzka sealed their victory with an 85th minute strike before a stoppage-time penalty from Berkan Taz gave the hosts a consolation goal.
VfL Wolfsburg had a much harder time, needing 120 minutes to beat Hallescher FC 5-3 after the third-tier club levelled to make it 3-3 in second half stoppage time.
Borussia Dortmund beat KFC Uerdingen 2-0 on Friday to book their second-round spot but there were some Bundesliga casualties with Mainz 05 and Augsburg crashing out to lower-ranked teams on Saturday. (Reuters) - Harry Maguire brought instant stability to Manchester United’s much-maligned defence on Sunday and their 4-0 win over Chelsea showed he can build a strong partnership with fellow centre back Victor Lindelof, Jose Mourinho has said.
Maguire became the world’s most expensive defender when United paid a reported 80 million pounds ($96.28 million) for his services and the England international delivered a man-of-thematch performance on his debut at Old Trafford.
“He was solid like a rock,” Mourinho, who has managed both sides, said in his role as a television analyst for Sky Sports.
“You can be very dangerous in attack but if you feel that a mistake is around the corner it takes your confidence away and you don’t play as well. When you feel there is something that allows you to play you are much more confident.
“As I always said Lindelof can be a very good player. With Maguire it can be a very good partnership.”
Maguire was also praised by United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who said the centre back had brought a sense of calm to a defence that conceded 54 league goals last season.
“(Maguire) did exactly what we signed him for, his presence in both boxes, his calmness and composure on the ball,” Solskjaer said.
“He’s a leader and with him, (goalkeeper) David de Gea and Victor Lindelof, they marshalled that back line really well. It is important to have strong personalities at the back.”
($1 = 0.8309 pounds)