Kulusevski hits brace as familiar faces return in Bayern clash

A brace from Dejan Kulusevski wasn’t enough to prevent us slipping to a narrow 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Visit Malta Cup as we completed our pre-season campaign at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.

Despite our Swedish forward opening the scoring inside the first minute, the German visitors surged into a 3-1 half-time lead with goals from Dayot Upamecano, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller.

Kulusevski netted his third goal of pre-season just after the hour mark to reduce the deficit but we were unable to find the equaliser and suffered defeat to Bayern for the second successive weekend following last Saturday’s 2-1 reverse in Seoul, South Korea.

During the second half of this encounter, Bayern introduced our two former stars Eric Dier and Harry Kane off the bench, whose significant contributions to the Club were recognised before the game as they received special gifts from Club Ambassador Ledley King. Also, just before kick-off our new signings Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke – whose arrival from Bournemouth was announced earlier in the day – were introduced to a packed crowd.

We made an incredibly fast start, going ahead after a mere 23 seconds! Brennan Johnson burst down the right, Kulusevski couldn’t control his initial cross but the ball bounced off Joshua Kimmich straight to the Swede and he tucked home from six yards out. However, the visitors levelled on 16 minutes, Guglielmo Vicario initially saving Mathys Tel’s header from Kimmich’s free-kick but the rebound fell kindly to Upamecano to touch in from close range.

Midway through the half it was end to end and a third goal always looked likely with both teams creating chances, but it went the way of the visitors on 31 minutes. Yves Bissouma had the ball pinched off him on the edge of our area, Muller’s pass deflected off Jamal Musiala and ran to Gnabry who drilled low right-footed into the far corner.

Musiala then tested Vicario with a powerful drive that the Italian parried away, while at the other end, Josip Stanisic stuck out a leg to prevent Heung-Min Son getting on the end of a dangerous low ball into box. Bayern struck again though shortly before the interval, Muller on the end of Raphael Guerreiro’s free-kick from the left to head past Vicario for 3-1.

Both sides made wholesale substitutions at the interval – Vicario, Son and Kulusevski the only players to remain for us – and we had the first sight of goal of the second period, Timo Werner’s angled drive saved by Sven Ulreich. We had the first goal of the half as well, reducing the deficit to one as Lucas Bergvall won possession high, received the ball back from Archie Gray before releasing Kulusevski who coolly slotted home from 12 yards out.

Kane received a rapturous welcome when he stepped into the fray with 12 minutes remaining, our all-time top scorer twice firing over the bar from distance in the closing stages while our best chance of levelling the game came as youngster Mikey Moore worked some space inside the area but his low effort was saved by Ulreich.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Kulusevski 1, 61; FC Bayern – Upamecano 16, Gnabry 31, Muller 44.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Dragusin, Lankshear; FC Bayern – Dier, Coman.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Light cloud, gentle breeze, 24 degrees.

Attendance: 61,084.