体坛英语新闻：Bayern beat resilient Freiburg 3-1 in Bundesliga

BERLIN, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich secured their 3-1 victory over Freiburg in the dying seconds of the game on the goals from substitute Joshua Zirkzee and Serge Gnabry in the 16th round of Bundesliga on Wednesday.

The "Bavarians" started highly motivated into the encounter and pressed Freiburg into the defence in the opening period. Hence, it took the visitors only one minute to produce the first promising chance but goalkeeper Mark Flekken was able to defuse Philippe Coutinho's chip.

Bayern kept it bowling and created another chance with seven minutes played when Thomas Muller rattled the woodwork from very close range.

Bayern's efforts eventually paid off with 16 minutes into the game as Alphonso Davies raced down on the left wing before assisting Robert Lewandowski, who marked his 19th goal of the season.

As the match progressed Freiburg slowly but surly gained a foothold into the game whereas the visitors retracted with the narrow lead behind.

Bayern's passiveness soon had dire consequences as Lucas Holer's shot on target forced custodian Manuel Neuer into action before Vincenzo Grifo capitalized on Janik Haberer's pinpoint cross to restore parity at the hour mark.

Freiburg assumed control and came close twice in quick succession as Nils Petersen missed the target from promising position while Holer tested Neuer once again moments later.

The chances were a wakening call for the visitors as Bayern almost grabbed the lead out of the blue but Flekken was on guard to tip Ivan Perisic's volley over the crossbar in the 65th minute.

In the closing period both sides traded attacks, with golden chances at both ends of the pitch. However, it were German record champions who had the last laugh as youngster substitute Zirkzee came off the bench and scored the decider 120 seconds later.

The defending champions were not done with the scoring and added another goal to their lead as Gnabry tapped own his own rebound three minutes later.

With the victory, Bayern Munich move on the third place, with a four-point deficit to front runners Leipzig, meanwhile Freiburg stay on the sixth position.

Elsewhere, runners-up Borussia Monchengladbach are now equal on points with leaders Leipzig after edging last placed Paderborn on the second half goals from Alassane Plea and Lars Stindl.

Relegation threatened Cologne bounced back and upset Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 as Dominick Drexler and Ismail Jakobs wrapped up all three points.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered their second straight defeat as the sole goal from Hertha Berlin's Karim Rekik was enough to reap the 5th win of the season and Wolfsburg played out a 1-1 stalemate with Schalke.