Bayern Munich 3-2 Cluj: Bavarians Edge Closer To Second Round Qualification

Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2010 by Goal.com

There were two own goals.

Champions League: FC Bayern Munich - CFR Cluj, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Two own goals from Cluj and a late second-half strike from Mario Gomez saw Bayern Munich win their third successive game in Group E in the Champions League as they defeated Cluj 3-2 at the Allianz Arena in Munich to take a giant step towards qualification for the knockout stage.

Cadu scored first for Cluj and then netted an own goal before Cristian Panin put the ball into his own net to make it 2-1 to Bayern at the break. Mario Gomez’s 77th minute strike virtually secured the three points for the German champions, although Juan Emmanuel Culio did make things interesting with his side’s second of the evening late on.

Cluj started the game the brighter of the two sides as Lacina Traore could have scored twice in the opening couple of minutes. However, Bayern recovered and the game became more even thereafter.
The hosts crafted a good chance on 18 minutes when Thomas Mueller discerned Mario Gomez, and although Felice Piccolo lost possession immediately after gaining the ball, Toni Kroos was unable to take advantage.

Minutes later Cluj could have gone ahead had Piccolo’s attempt on the Bayern goal at the back post following a cross not gone just inches wide.

But the Romanians didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock as Cadu nodded in a brilliant Roberto De Zerbi cross at the far post on 28 minutes.

But four minutes later the defender netted an own goal to restore parity for the Bavarians. Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross found its way to Kroos, whose cross was then deflected into the Cluj net off Cadu’s knee.

It could have been 2-1 to Bayern right after when Hamit Altiptop was set up by Schweinsteiger but the midfielder’s shot was deflected on to the side net.

The resulting Badstuber corner, though, did yield in a goal as it was deflected into the Cluj net by Panin.

However, the visitors didn’t give up and started to press on Louis van Gaal’s side. They could have equalised right on the stroke of half-time had Traore’s early shot from close range not struck the post.

Bayern Munich 3-2 Cluj: Bavarians Edge Closer To Second Round Qualification

The visitors commenced the second-half the way they had started the opening 45 minutes and constructed the first chance when Traore nodded the ball on to the path of Culio but the Argentine’s meek shot went straight to Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt.

A couple of minutes later Rafael Bastos tried to send Culio through with a 40-yard through ball but Butt made a vital interception.

However, moments later Bayern came close to taking a two-goal cushion when Mueller aimed for the top-right corner from the edge of the Cluj penalty area but couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Altintop and Kroos subsequently made attempts to put Bayern 3-1 up and Badstuber's shot was parried at the left post by Eduard Stancioiu on the hour mark.

But Cluj weren’t letting things go completely out of control as Ioan Hora forced Butt into making a finger-tip save.

Unfortunately for the Romanians, their brave endeavor was crushed 13 minutes from normal time when Mario Gomez scored Bayern’s third. Kroos’ 18-yard shot was parried by Stancioiu and Cadu’s subsequent clearance deflected off the Germany international into the net.

Culio scored his side’s second of the evening towards the end of the match when fed by Panin, he found the target. However, Bayern held on as Anatoliy Tymoshchuk made a last-minute tackle on De Zerbi.

The 3-2 victory means that Bayern Munich now have nine points from three matches in the group and are a step closer to qualifying for the knockout round. Cluj, though, still need to work harder as they are stuck on three points.