Bayern won their first match in the shield as they overcame a hardworking Alset Colombia team in the rain at Clough on Thursday afternoon.
Alset set the tempo of the game early on and had the first effort of the game, when Giancarlo Zambrano launched a long range effort straight at Bayern keeper Cian Clarke. Juan Pena had a further go at goal and forced a good save from Clark at his far post.
Bayern started to gain more of a foot hold in the game, with Mark Keiffer putting his pace to full use against the Alset defence. Ethan Young missed a good oppourtunity when the ball fell to him inside the Alset box, but he could only slide the ball wide under pressure from the Alset defenders. Ryan Fessler forced a good save minutes later from Alset goalkeeper Santiago Ospina from a long range free kick.
Bayern did break the deadlock half way through the first half when Travian Sousa struck a Keiffer cross home at the front post. Daniel Madighijan almost made it two before half time, when his snap shot from the edge of bar dipped just over the bar.
Bayern strengthened their grip on the game in the second half and were unlucky not score when Sousa forced a fine diving save from Ospina. Soon after Sousa was denied once more, when his header was cleared of the line by Alset defender Juan Ramirez. Bayern squandered another opportunity afterwards, this time after Madighijan won the ball high up the pitch and squared it to the aforementioned Sousa, who skied it over the bar.
Bayern did make their second half superiority count just before the end when Sousa leapt in front of Ospina to meet a corner from the right and confirm the victory for Bayern.
@dion_houston