Luis Díaz and Nicolas Jackson both found the net during stoppage time as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich overcame a deficit to secure a 3-1 victory over determined St. Pauli.
After suffering a defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League, Bayern had a rocky start and fell behind early when Andreas Hountondji, on loan from Burnley, scored for St. Pauli in the sixth minute.
Raphaël Guerreiro netted the equalizer just before half-time, benefiting from a clever assist from Díaz, who then scored in the third minute of injury time as Bayern’s search for a winner reached a critical point.
Jackson sealed the win three minutes later, extending Bayern’s lead to eight points atop the Bundesliga table after second-placed Leipzig played to a scoreless draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bayern appeared destined for only a draw after hitting the post three times, including efforts from Harry Kane, who also had a shot saved off the line after they had fallen behind.
Konrad Laimer lost possession deep in his own territory to Mathias Pereira Lage, who delivered a through ball allowing Hountondji to shake off Kim Min-Jae’s challenge and score past Manuel Neuer at the near post.
That goal would be Hountondji’s only contribution as he was forced to leave the match injured after 18 minutes, with St. Pauli then settling into a defensive strategy, hoping to counter-attack.
Bayern began to build momentum, with teenager Lennart Karl, who had scored in the midweek loss against Arsenal, seeing a curled shot hit the post.
Kane struggled to find the target from a tight angle, while Tom Bischof had a deflected attempt hit the frame of the goal. However, Bayern finally equalized a minute before half-time thanks to Guerreiro.
The goal was largely owing to Díaz’s quick reflexes; after being brought down in the box, he flicked the ball to Guerreiro, who smacked a first-time shot into the net.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany bolstered his attack by introducing Michael Olise for Laimer at the start of the second half, but St. Pauli remained defensively strong.
Bayern had two penalty appeals turned down, and Olise set up Kane, who was intercepted before he could shoot by Arkadiusz Pyrka.
Kane then became the third Bayern player to strike the post from close range, and shortly after, his header from a corner was cleared off the line as St. Pauli fought to hold their slim advantage.
Just when it seemed St. Pauli would escape with a draw, Díaz scored in the third minute of stoppage time, heading in from a dipping cross by Joshua Kimmich.
Jackson solidified Bayern’s victory moments later, calmly placing a shot beyond St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj after Serge Gnabry intercepted the ball from Eric Smith.