FRANKFURT: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich needed an 87th-minute penalty from forward Harry Kane to rescue a 2-2 home draw against struggling Mainz but still extended their lead at the top to nine points.

Goals from Lee Jae-sung and Kacper Potulski had put the visitors in the driving seat after Lennart Karl’s first-half opener for the Bavarians before England captain Kane netted his 18th league goal of the season to save the hosts’ blushes and narrowly avoid their second league loss of the season.

Bayern are top spot on 38 points with RB Leipzig second on 29 after Friday’s 3-1 defeat at Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in third, on goal difference, after their 1-1 draw at Freiburg.

They have also reached the 50-goal mark in their 14th Bundesliga match of the season, the fastest in league history.

Kane said: “We were in complete control for the first 44 minutes and had many chances to score. The sudden equaliser just before halftime changed the momentum.

“We came out of the break dominant again, but lacked the last touch. They then scored a nice goal, and we had to fight back. We’ve had a lot of games in a short period, but that’s no excuse.”

The Bundesliga will go into its traditional winter break from December 21 to January 9.

#####