You gotta feel for the Bayern Munich goalkeeper. Early in the match against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, an absolutely insane Manuel Neuer double save on Kevin Volland seemingly kept the German giants from going behind on an early penalty kick.
But because the referee hadn't blown his whistle before the penalty was taken, it was all for naught. The kick had to be retaken and Wendell stepped up to bury the second opportunity, giving Leverkusen an unlikely lead inside five minutes.
You can see the referee still running back to his spot as Volland began to take his shot. He lifted his arms up in disbelief that the Leverkusen man would take the shot before the whistle. Munich fans were livid, Leverkusen fans ecstatic by the odd scenario.
The Manuel Neuer double save, though it didn’t actually count in the end, shows Germany’s No. 1 is rounding into full form nearly a year after he was injured and missed most of the 2017-18 season. He — and indeed most of the German national team — had an indifferent World Cup, but back in the friendly confines of the Bundesliga, the Bayern Munich man is once again looking impeccable, even if Wendell converted the second attempt.
But, again, this is Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, so the club didn’t stay down long.
World Cup winner Corentin Tolisso equalized five minutes later, taking two efforts himself to score past Lukas Hradecky.
And Arjen Robben, still going strong at 34, blasted in the go-ahead goal about 10 minutes later with this smashing volley.
Bayern Munich led 2-1 at halftime and won 3-1, with James Rodriguez scoring the final goal.
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