Haugen strikes late as Viking hold Bayern to 3-3 draw
Viking came from behind to draw 3-3 with Bayern München in the Champions League at Lyse Arena on Tuesday night. Gianni Stensness and Per Christiansen put the hosts 2-0 up at half-time before Harry Kane and Luis Díaz turned the game around. Henrik Haugen's 90th-minute equaliser, after Michael Olise's red card, earned a memorable point.
A dream start and a half-time lead
Viking began the night in the best possible way. Gianni Stensness put the hosts ahead after only two minutes, and the goal was set up by captain Zlatko Tripić. The early strike settled the home crowd and set the tone for a first half in which Bayern München struggled to find their rhythm.
Per Christiansen doubled the lead in the 38th minute, with Eric Botheim providing the assist. Viking went into the break 2-0 up against one of Europe's heaviest-hitting sides.
Kane and Díaz turn the match around
Bayern changed personnel at the interval and came out with more urgency. Harry Kane converted a penalty in the 54th minute to cut the deficit. Six minutes later he levelled from a Joshua Kimmich assist, and the Lyse Arena crowd suddenly had a fight on its hands.
Luis Díaz put the visitors in front in the 71st minute, finishing with his right foot after Konrad Laimer's pass. Viking had gone from two goals up to a goal down, and the comeback looked to be complete.
Olise sees red, Haugen strikes late
The match turned again soon after. Bayern's Michael Olise was sent off shortly after Díaz's goal, and Viking had a numerical advantage for the last stretch. Coach changes followed as the hosts pushed forward, and Viking stayed in the game despite the setback.
The equaliser came in the 90th minute. Substitute Henrik Haugen scored from another Tripić assist and sent the home supporters into celebration. The final whistle from referee Georgi Kabakov confirmed a 3-3 draw, a point that few outside Stavanger would have predicted before kick-off.
The attendance at Lyse Arena was recorded at 15,466. International coverage afterwards focused on the late drama, and on Tripić, who was described by one Bayern-focused outlet as the pantomime villain of the night. Kane, for his part, was reported as unbothered by the captain's antics.
Back to league business
The European night will not change the Eliteserien picture, but Viking's domestic form is strong. After 22 matches the club sits top of the table on 53 points, level with Bodø/Glimt, with Tromsø third on 39.
The focus now returns to the league, where Viking have home games still to come at Lyse Arena. The Champions League point is a major result in the club's European campaign. It also shows that the team can compete with the best sides on the continent.
Sources: flashscore.com, bundesliga.com, fotmob.com, bavarianfootballworks.com, vavel.com
