Leon Goretzka and Jean-Paul Boetius had exchanged goals at the Opel Arena when Thiago Alcantara snatched what proved to be the winner soon after the hour mark. Most of the Bayern players raced towards the Spain midfielder after his strike, but Kimmich took a detour via Sanches first, something he later explained.

“The second goal, it’s [Sanches] that won the ball,” he told Sport1. “The determination he showed to win back possession ultimately won us the game. Of course, [Robert Lewandowski] also played the ball well and Thiago finished it, but it’s not always the scorer who decides the game.”

Sanches was a European champion with Portugal and Golden Boy winner when he joined Bayern from Benfica in 2016, but initially struggled to settle at the Allianz Arena and spent last season on loan with Swansea City.

The midfielder, now 21, appears to be settling into his stride under Niko Kovac’s tutelage, though, and Kimmich is full of admiration for the powerful midfielder who now seems to have the mental fortitude to go with his physicality.

"I take my hat off to him,” continued Kimmich. “It takes some guts to come here alone at 18. He didn’t have it so easy the first time around but then to come back and clearly state that he wanted to succeed – it’s remarkable how he’s done that, mentally.”

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It is a scene that, if his performances in the MLS this season are an accurate indication, he can look forward to experiencing in front of an even greater audience at the Allianz Arena in the spring. In the 67th minute – matching his shirt number – the BC Place Stadium crowd rose in unison to pay tribute to the biggest star they have ever seen rise through their franchise.

They are not Davies’ only fans. Bayern coach Niko Kovac is so enthusiastic about the Canadian’s arrival that he has invited him to Munich as early as November – after the international break – even if he will not officially be eligible to play until January.

That gives the Croatian coach two months to take a close look at him in training, and determine where he will fit in his side as they turn into the final straight of the season. With eight goals and 11 assists – at the age of just 17 – ‘Phonzie’ can expect to be given some role, yet it is not entirely clear what that will be.

With the likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry all established on the Bayern roster, Davies faces arguably the stiffest competition for a place he could possibly have found in Europe, but his inherent versatility stands him in good stead to make an impression.

In fact, while the Ghana-born winger spent much of the last MLS season on the left wing, his first year in Vancouver was predominantly spent out on the right. For Canada, his eight caps have been divided equally on either flank.

Naturally left-footed, his right is for far more than just standing on. In fact, ambidexterity is one of Davies’ most lethal weapons, with his whirlwind dribbling skills and Robben-esque ability to cut in on his favoured foot and arrow efforts into the far corner. If Bayern were looking for a young man to supply such goals once their veteran Dutchman hangs up his boots, they may well have found him.

It would be reductive to claim that is all ‘Phonzie’ is good at, though. Fearless in possession, he has a maturity which belies his age. If the MLS and international football with Canada did not daunt him – and neither did – don’t expect the Bundesliga to become a burden either. To borrow a commonly used idiom, if Davies does hit the ground running in Bavaria, he is going to take some keeping up with.

"You can see he has speed, he has skills,” former Bayern and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger told Sportsnet.

“Offensively, transition wise. He’s very good … He has potential with that speed, with that technique, with those skills. If he works hard, also for the defence, of course he can go on to play in Europe,” added Schweinsteiger, who knows full well the demands of the European game – in particular the upper echelons of it, where Bayern dwell.

Davies has grasped that and uses that pace to get back and lend a hand defensively, showing even greater versatility and, above all, positional and tactical awareness by slotting seamlessly into the midfield line in a 4-3-3 formation, and not shirking any of the tackling responsibilities that entails.

All of these characteristics put Davies in a prime position to make an impact on Bayern’s game, but one aptitude Alphonso will need more than any other is confidence. He will arrive in Bavaria off the back of Sunday’s standing ovation, going from a franchise where he was worshipped to a club where he is being tipped for greatness, but has still got everything to prove.

Self-belief has not been in short supply so far, however, for a boy who, by turning 18, becomes a man on Friday. That coming of age will precede his footballing one by a mere matter of weeks, with plenty to suggest Kovac will find a place for him: on the left or the right, but central to his plans.

London-born Sancho put the Hertha defence to the sword with goals in each half on Saturday, first converting smartly from a tight angle when found by Mario Götze and then tapping home after Marco Reus’ superb dummy. Kissing the club badge as he celebrated, he was later replaced by USA international Christian Pulisic on 71 minutes, leaving the field to a standing ovation from the home faithful.

Watch: Sancho on Dortmund's title credentials