Bayern Munich Edges Out Boca Juniors, Securing Spot in Club World Cup Knockouts

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – With a thrilling goal in the 84th minute, Michael Olise secured Bayern Munich’s advancement to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, edging out Boca Juniors with a 2-1 victory on Friday night. The German champions have now clinched two wins in Group C, ensuring their spot in the round of 16 even with one match remaining. Olise’s decisive goal at Hard Rock Stadium followed a spectacular solo effort by Boca’s Miguel Merentiel, who had leveled the score in the 66th minute.

Bayern, leading the group, initially took the lead when Harry Kane showcased his superb finishing skill in the 18th minute. Despite missing several opportunities after their opener, Bayern found themselves equalized by Merentiel’s strike. Reflecting on the match, Kane remarked, “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we knew we were coming into a hostile environment, hot weather, it was tough. It’s a massive tournament. We are playing against the best teams in the world. We just have to compete to our highest level and we should be able to beat most teams.”

However, the victory came with a setback. Star midfielder Jamal Musiala exited just 25 minutes after joining the match, replaced by seasoned national team player Thomas Müller in the 82nd minute. The specifics of Musiala’s injury were not immediately clear, though the 22-year-old was making a return following a torn hamstring suffered during the Bundesliga season.

Despite the loss, Boca Juniors still have a path to advance. To move forward, they must decisively defeat Auckland City on Tuesday while hoping for Benfica to falter against Bayern on the same day.