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Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Canadian Alphonso Davies scores for Bayern, writes Bundesliga history

It was the 70th minute between Bayern Munich and Mainz when Alphonso Davies wrote both Canadian and Bundesliga history.

With Bayern up 5-0 and in complete control of the match, head coach Niko Kovač made good on his statement given to Pro Soccer USA in February: that the 18-year-old former Whitecaps winger would see playing time if the results were right.

Just three minutes after Bayern scored its fifth goal, with Colombian superstar James Rodríguez completing a hat trick, the referee on the sideline held up Davies’ number 19 to indicate the substitution. Brought on for David Alaba, Davies then slotted in the left-back position, where he played at times under Carl Robinson last season.

In Mainz, Bayern faced an opponent that struggled to keep up with Bayern’s high press. Hence, even though Davies was nominally playing as a left back, he was permitted to press high up the pitch, playing almost like an additional attacking player. 

Then came the goal in the 70th minute.

German international Leon Goretzka played a great ball to Robert Lewandowski, who scored the opening goal in the fourth minute and was wide open inside the box. The Polish striker’s shot was, however, stopped by a heroic Florian Müller. But once again, the Mainz defense was unable to clear Bayern’s attack and Davies pounced on the ball and hammered it home from just a few yards out. 

It was a historic goal. Davies became the first Bayern player born in the new millennial to score for the club and the youngest scorer in Bayern history overall since the Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz scored for Bayern all the way back in August 1999. 

In other words, Alphonso Davies is the youngest player to score for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga since he was born.

The goal will give Davies some much-needed confidence ahead of Canada’s important Concacaf Nations League clash against French Guinea next Saturday at BC Place — the very stadium were Davies burst onto the scene for his former MLS club, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Following the international break, Bayern will face Freiburg in the Bundesliga and then Bundesliga 2 side 1.FC Heidenheim in the quarterfinal of the DFB Pokal (German Cup). The Bavarians will be favorites in both those games and, therefore, they will be games to watch for Canadians who want to see Davies in action.