Liverpool ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach last eight
Thursday, 14 Mar 20196:40 AM MYT
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Sadio Mane scored twice to hand Liverpool a 3-1 Champions League victory at Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they nullified their German opponents with a dominant performance that sent them through to the quarter-finals.
After the last-16 first leg ended goalless at Anfield, five-times European champions Liverpool took control in Munich, bossing the game to become the fourth English team into the last eight with their first away win in Europe this season.
What had the potential to be a thrilling encounter turned into a scrappy affair with both teams making mistakes in possession, but Bayern were prevented from applying sustained pressure and were picked off at key moments.
Mane opened the scoring, pouncing on a needless charge out of his goal by Manuel Neuer in his 100th Champions League appearance, to round the Bayern keeper with a superb turn before chipping his finish into the empty net in the 26th minute.
Centre back Virgil van Dijk, who had missed the first leg last month, killed off any German hopes of a comeback when he rose high to head home in the 69th minute before Mane headed in his second in the 84th.
"We knew it would be very tough but we would have the chance to score at some point," Van Dijk told reporters. "It was unlucky to get the equaliser but at the end we did the job. Good work."
Last season's runners-up Liverpool completed a full house of English teams in the last eight, the first time this has happened since the 2008/9 season, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City already through.
Bayern knew they had to be more adventurous than they had been at Anfield, but they were suffocated by Liverpool's intense pressing in the first half.
The Reds, beaten by Real Madrid in last season's final, suffered an early blow when captain Jordan Henderson hobbled off with an ankle injury.
Mane's goal gave them the edge but instead of adding to their lead when they had the upper hand, Matip's own goal let Bayern back into the game against the run of play.
The Bavarians, who had reached the Champions League quarter-finals or better in each of the last seven seasons, needed a second with Liverpool heading through on the away goals rule.
Liverpool, however, kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Dutchman Van Dijk grabbed his third goal in his last four appearances in all competitions.
"Both teams were cautious but the second goal took the wind out of our sails," said defender Masts Hummels. "Before that it was very tight. But after the 2-1 we just could not turn it around."
Mane completed a memorable win with a well-timed header after a delightful lofted pass from Mohamed Salah as Liverpool stretched their unbeaten run in Champions League last-16 matches to eight following a 1-0 loss at home to Barcelona in 2007.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2019/03/14/liverpool-ease-past-bayern-31-to-reach-last-eight/#UHSTOKBX3yOZVMmD.99
