Bayern Munich score penalty in historic video replay decision
In a historic decision by a football referee, Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored a penalty awarded by a video replay, as the Bavarian club opened the 2017/18 Bundesliga season with a 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
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The video assistant referee system is being used for the first time in the Bundesliga this season and came into play for the first time to flag up a foul on Lewandowski in the penalty area during the second-half.
The Polish striker scored the penalty to put Bayern 3-0 up after new signings Germany defender Niklas Suele and France midfielder Corentin Tolisso scored with first-half headers.
Leverkusen deservedly pulled a goal back at 3-0 down when Swiss striker Admir Mehmedi finished a strong passage of play with a powerful shot that beat the Munich goalkeeper.
On a dramatic opening night, the start of the second half was also held up by 15 minutes as torrential rain swept the stadium.
Having won last season's German league title -- their fifth in a row -- by 15 points, the thumping win in Munich suggests Bayern are keen to maintain their iron-grip on the Bundesliga title.
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