BERLIN, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich needed second-half reinforcements from its bench to beat promoted SV Elversberg 2-1 on Sunday, with Harry Kane scoring his first Bundesliga goal of the season.
Vincent Kompany made seven changes from Thursday's 5-0 Champions League win over Bodo/Glimt, with only Michael Olise, Kane, Dayot Upamecano and Aleksandar Pavlovic retaining their places in the starting lineup. Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz and Alphonso Davies were among those left out.
Elversberg, which had won its opening two league matches, pressed Bayern high and caused early problems. Min-Jae Kim diverted Lukas Petkov's cross into the side netting before Noah Darvich failed to make clean contact with another delivery.
Bayern nevertheless took the lead in the 26th minute. Ismael Saibari beat his marker on the left and sent a low cross through the six-yard box, where Lennart Karl arrived at the far post to finish from close range.
Cole Campbell appeared to equalize shortly before halftime, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review for offside against Darvich in the build-up.
Kane then had a 60th-minute effort disallowed for offside before Elversberg equalized a minute later. Darvich found Maurice Krattenmacher outside the penalty area, and the substitute curled a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Kompany responded in the 65th minute by introducing Kimmich, Musiala, Diaz and Davies together, and Bayern immediately increased the pressure. Olise had an effort blocked and then struck the crossbar before the visitor regained the lead.
Pavlovic found Kane inside the area in the 72nd minute, and the England striker finished into the top corner while falling.
Noel Futkeu narrowly missed an immediate equalizer, but Bayern controlled the closing stages to secure its second league win.
"We set out to play as well as possible, but in the end, it was not enough," Krattenmacher said. "It was an important three points, not an easy game, they are a good team," Kane said. "We could have scored more goals in the end, but we take it."
The result moved Bayern to fourth on seven points, while Elversberg dropped to sixth on six.
Elsewhere on Sunday, RB Leipzig thrashed Hamburg 5-0 at home. The result left winless Hamburg bottom of the table with three defeats, 12 goals conceded and none scored, while Leipzig climbed back into contention after two consecutive losses. ■
