Kim Min-jae opens scoring in Bayern Munich's 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt

Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored his first goal of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season for Bayern Munich on Sunday, opening the scoring in what would end as a 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, right, celebrates during a Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored his first goal of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season for Bayern Munich on Sunday, opening the scoring in what would end as a 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kim slotted home the ball in the 15th minute at Deutsche Bank Park in Germany to give Bayern the lead, but the Bundesliga giants failed to maintain it, with the match turning out to be a goal fest.

Omar Marmoush equalized in the 22nd minute, followed by Hugo Ekitike turning things around for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 35th minute. However, Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano scored in the 38th minute, ending the first half at 2-2.

Bayern reclaimed their lead in the second half, with Michael Olise scoring with a curled shot in the 53rd minute. But conceding a stoppage-time goal to Marmoush gave Bayern their second league draw of the season.

Despite Sunday’s draw, Bayern still sits at the top of the league table with four wins and two draws.

Sunday’s match was Bayern’s last game before the FIFA international break, during which Kim will join the Korean national team that faces Jordan on Oct. 10 and Iraq on Oct. 15 in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Kim joins the national squad after being a regular pick at Bayern, having played nine matches across all competitions this season.

His run with Bayern, led by new manager Vincent Kompany so far, contrasts with the second half of last season, when he played fewer minutes under then-Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who often did not utilize Kim in his best XI.

The Bayern defender played in the last two World Cup qualifiers under new Korea manager Hong Myung-bo and picked up one win and one draw.

A win in the upcoming qualifier against Jordan will allow second-placed Korea to snatch the top position in Group B from the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]