They were trailing for an hour. They had four first-half attempts blocked, saved, or cleared off the line. Their captain was denied a penalty by VAR. And still, somehow, England are through.
Harry Kane scored twice in the final 16 minutes — a crushing header and a rocket from a tight angle — to turn a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 victory over a DR Congo side that deserved so much more than this at the Atlanta Stadium. England advances to face Mexico in the Round of 16. The Leopards go home having played a terrific match.
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First Half: DR Congo Stun the World
It took seven minutes. Chancel Mbemba launched a long diagonal over England’s defensive line. Djed Spence misjudged the bounce, Brian Cipenga broke free down the left, controlled the ball, and drove a low right-footed finish past Jordan Pickford at the near post. 1–0.
England’s high defensive line had been punished with a single pass. DR Congo dropped into a deep block and invited England to break them down. For 38 minutes, they could not.
Bellingham headed a cross straight at Mpasi, who swatted it away. Rashford curled a shot past the keeper, only for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to sprint back and clear off the line. Bellingham, again, directed a sharp downward header toward the corner in first-half stoppage time — Mpasi’s fingertip save was extraordinary. Kane lunged at a far-post corner in the sixth minute of added time, and Mpasi scrambled across to smother it. The half-time whistle went. DR Congo were still ahead.
In between, a VAR review at the 43rd minute added further fury to England’s night. Kane chased a loose ball and went down over Mpasi’s outstretched arms. The referee waved away the penalty. VAR official Khamis Al Marri reviewed the incident — and upheld the decision without asking the referee to look at the monitor. Replays showed contact. England’s bench erupted.
Second Half: Tuchel Changes the Game
Thomas Tuchel made the call on the hour. Off came Rashford and Madueke — the wide players who had been unable to find a way past DR Congo’s defensive block. On came Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka. The game changed immediately.
Gordon, in particular, brought a different kind of directness. In the 74th minute, he drove down the flank and delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the box. Kane was waiting. His header was brutal — power and placement, past Mpasi, into the net. 1–1.
DR Congo reorganised and tried to hold on. They nearly did. But in the 85th minute, Bellingham forced a save from Mpasi and the ball broke loose. Gordon, alert and sharp, slipped a clever pass into Kane’s feet. Kane shrugged off two defenders, shifted onto his right foot from a tight angle, and drove a rocket into the top-right corner. 2–1.
England’s response was immediate. Tuchel pulled off an exhausted Declan Rice and sent on John Stones at centre-back, shifting to a more defensive shape to run down the clock. DR Congo pressed but could not find the equaliser. The full-time whistle went.
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What Comes Next
England face Mexico in the Round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — July 6 at 5:30 AM IST. Mexico have conceded zero goals in four matches. England looked vulnerable for 74 minutes tonight. That combination makes for one of the most compelling Round of 16 fixtures left in this tournament.
Kane, at least, has found his scoring touch. If Gordon starts, England have a platform. If Bellingham finds his best form, they can trouble anyone. But they will need to be far more organized from the first whistle against a Mexican side that is playing their best football in this World Cup.
England vs Mexico in the Round of 16 — live on ZEE 5 at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, July 6 at 5:30 AM IST. India’s official home of FIFA World Cup 2026™.
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