Bayern Munich edge Liverpool 4-3 in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A stunning stoppage-time strike by Frans Kratzig sealed victory for Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool in Singapore on Wednesday as the German league champions came from behind twice to win 4-3. The 20-year-old fired past Alisson as the game entered stoppage time to settle a thrilling encounter in front of a crowd of nearly 50,000 fans at the National Stadium. A goal inside two minutes by Cody Gakpo and a header by Virgil van Dijk had put the English side two goals up in the opening half-hour but Bayern hit back through Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane to level the score before half-time.

Luis Diaz regained the lead for Liverpool midway through the second half before Josip Stanisic drew level at 3-3 in the 80th minute and Kratzig secured the win for Bayern at the death. A left-back from Bayern’s youth system, Kratzig has impressed on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia and manager Thomas Tuchel was delighted with his performance on Wednesday when he was deployed in a more attacking position. “Let’s not get overexcited but he’s a lovely guy,” said Tuchel.

“First of all, he has good character, is a very good football player and is very intelligent and smart on the pitch. “He was very strong when we changed him into an offensive position. I didn’t know how well he could play there because he’s usually a specialist defender,” Tuchel added.