Then Yussuf Poulsen scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time for Leipzig to draw with Bayern Munich 3-3 and postpone the Bundesliga leaders' expected title party on Saturday.
"I fully feel like a champion, just we're not yet," Bayern veteran Thomas Muller said.
Bayern are now all but certain to win the championship.
Bayer Leverkusen can still mathematically catch the Bavarian serial winners and defend their title, but they'll have to win their remaining three games while making up a goal difference of 30 goals.
And even then in that fantasy world, Bayern would still have to lose their final two matches.
Kane has, famously, been forced to wait for a first major trophy after a career of near-misses and disappointments.
The 31-year-old had to watch his teammates play without him as he was suspended against Leipzig because of an accumulation of yellow cards.
Leipzig made the better start and deservedly led at halftime thanks to goals from Benjamin Sesko and Lukas Klostermann, leaving the watching Kane sitting stone-faced in the stands.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany evidently found the right words during the break.
Kane's former Spurs teammate Eric Dier pulled one back with a header from Michael Olise's corner in the 62nd minute, and Olise himself equalised a minute later after the home team's sloppy play from the restart.
Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt denied Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka, and Konrad Laimer headed over against his former side as Bayern created a host of chances as the rain streamed down.
Sane then finally made one count with a fierce shot inside the far post in the 83rd.
Bayern fans set off fireworks as they celebrated and Kane was ready to run onto the field to join his teammates until Xavi sent Poulsen through for the final say.
"We're almost champions," Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said after what he described as "a spectacle."
Bayern may have to wait only a day for their record-extending 34th crown as Leverkusen must win at Freiburg on Sunday, but they would happily settle to take their title on home turf against Borussia Monchengladbach next week when Kane will be back.
"We are happy, regardless whether we become champions tomorrow or next week," goalkeeper Jonas Urbig said.
Elsewhere, resurgent Borussia Dortmund climbed past Leipzig and Freiburg into fourth place with a 4-0 demolition of Wolfsburg from braces by Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi.
Dortmund have garnered 16 points from their last six matches and are well in contention again for a top-four finish.
Borussia Monchengladbach played out a wild 4-4 draw with lowly Hoffenheim, who fought from 2-0 and 3-2 down to lead 4-3 before Gladbach's Tim Kleindienst had the last laugh in stoppage time.
Jens Stage struck twice early on for Werder Bremen before Union Berlin rallied to a 2-2 draw, while in Hamburg Nick Woltemade first had a penalty saved before scoring a late winner in a 1-0 win for Cup finalists VfB Stuttgart at St Pauli, who had Siebe van der Heyden and goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj sent off.
With DPA
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