BERLIN — Robert Lewandowski struck twice as champions Bayern Munich eased past Freiburg 3-1 on Saturday to secure a record 15th win in a row and the Pole became the first foreign player to score 33 goals in a Bundesliga season.
Additionally, 20-year-old American defender Chris Richards made his Bayern Munich debut, becoming the first American to play for the German giant since Landon Donovan.
Congrats to @USYNT product Chris Richards (@eastmamba) on making his first-team debut for @FCBayernUS! https://t.co/GVnMOd9Ge9
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) June 20, 2020
The Bavarians, who sealed their eighth successive title on Tuesday with victory at Werder Bremen, went in front after 15 minutes through Joshua Kimmich's well-placed shot from a Lewandowski assist.
Muller → Lewandowski → Kimmich
This @FCBayernUS linkup was tidy pic.twitter.com/lE394kjqsO— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2020
The striker then nodded in on the rebound in the 24th minute after Freiburg keeper Alexander Schwolow had blocked a Leon Goretzka shot before flicking in the third from a Lucas Hernandez cutback before halftime.
32 @Bundesliga_EN goals.
Robert Lewandowski makes more history, becoming the highest-scoring non-German in a single season. pic.twitter.com/2XZIkrpF0G— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2020
Freiburg had earlier cut the deficit through Lucas Hoeler.
Bayern, who earned a club record 15th consecutive victory in all competitions, took their foot off the gas after the break, allowing Freiburg to create a few chances.
Sven Ulreich, making a rare appearance as replacement for Bayern's first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer, denied Kwon Chang-hoon in a one-on-one in stoppage time.
Lewandowski can still add to his tally on the final matchday but is unlikely to match Gerd Mueller's Bundesliga record of 40 goals in a season set in 1972.
The previous best mark by a foreign player was 31 goals scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2016-17 season.
Bayern, who need five more goals to equal the club record of 101 for a season, are on 79 points, 10 clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)
