Bayern Munich edge Boca Juniors 2-1 to secure Club World Cup knockout berth

Bayern Munich booked their place in the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup on Friday, surviving a spirited challenge from Argentina’s Boca Juniors to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Michael Olise.

Kane opened the scoring with a clinical left-footed strike in the 18th minute, but Boca equalized through Miguel Merentiel in the 66th minute after a relentless second-half push. However, Olise delivered a decisive late winner, sealing Bayern’s progression with a composed finish in the 84th minute.

“It was a huge effort from the lads,” Kane said post-match. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy—playing in a hostile environment with the heat. We should have been two or three up in the first half, but they turned up the pressure after the break. Once they scored, though, we shifted the momentum back.”

The Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, was a sea of Boca Juniors’ blue and gold, with more than 63,000 fans creating a thunderous atmosphere. Bayern quieted the crowd early, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka dominating midfield and Bayern’s attack stretching Boca’s defense.

The German Bundesliga champions thought they had taken the lead in the eighth minute when Olise’s corner drifted untouched into the net, but a VAR review ruled out the goal after Serge Gnabry was adjudged to have blocked Boca goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.

Ten minutes later, Bayern broke through. Boca failed to clear a cross into the box, and Kane pounced with a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Bayern pressed for a second, with Olise’s cross just eluding Kingsley Coman’s sliding effort.

Boca threatened late in the first half, with Manuel Neuer saving thunderous free-kicks from Kevin Zenon twice in quick succession. Kane nearly doubled Bayern’s lead with a dipping free-kick that grazed the crossbar.

After the break, Bayern continued to probe, with Olise squandering a golden chance from close range. But Boca fought back, and Merentiel’s equalizer—a brilliant finish after skipping past Josip Stanisic—threatened to extend South American clubs’ unbeaten run in the tournament.

Yet Bayern had the final say. In the 84th minute, Kane laid off a loose ball to Olise, who controlled it superbly and fired past Marchesin to secure the win.

“We knew they’d never give up,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. “But this team has character. Now we focus on the next challenge.”