BERLIN, May 23 (Reuters) – Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane scored a second-half hat-trick to steerthe Bundesliga champions to a 3-0 victory over holders VfB Stuttgart in the German Cup final on Saturday as they claimedthe domestic double for the first time in six years.
Kane headed home for a 55th-minute lead, then bagged his second after a superb move 10 minutes from time before earning his third goal of the evening with a stoppage-time penalty.
The England captain, in stellar form heading into next month’s World Cup, is only the third player ever to score in every German Cup round, including the final.
He has also netted 61 times in 51 matches across all competitions for Bayern this season.
“Maybe a bit of patience,” Kane said when asked how the game turned. “The first half was tough. They like the man-to-man pressure. But they started to tire a little bit.
“In the second half we were a bit more patient with the ball, a bit more quality. We deserved to win.
“A record-breaking season,” he added. “We wanted to win today. We got the job done today. We wanted the Champions League, an addition wewanted to achieve. But tonight’s win will help this team grow. I am looking forward to next season.”
Bayern honorary president and club supremo Uli Hoeness called Kane’s transfer the best the club have ever made.
“To have those types of words, knowing how many great players haveplayed here, it’sspecial,” Kane said. “I feel like I’m part of (club’s history), scoring three goals in a final.”
The Bavarians, who were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Paris St Germain this month, missing out on a potential treble, were on the back foot in the first half.
They struck against the run of play when Kane, who topped the Bundesliga scorers’ list for a third straight season, headed in a perfect Michael Olise assist 10 minutes after the restart.
The match was briefly interrupted on the hour after both sets of fans lit flares in the stands, with smoke trapped under the sprawling Olympic Stadium’s roof limiting visibility.
Stuttgart’s Chris Fuehrich came close with a 76th minute header but it was Kane who delivered a masterclass finish four minutes later to end their hopes of a comeback.
The 32-year-old first rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot and then received a pass from Luis Diaz on the rebound in the box, turned quickly to shake off one marker and beat goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel with a low drive.
Kane capped his superb performance with a stoppage-time spot kick to round off a perfect night for the striker and Bayern.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)
