England’s king is ruling in America after all, as Harry Kane saved the Three Lions from certain embarrassment with a late brace to come back and defeat a heroic Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 to clinch a spot in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday down in Atlanta.
The African nation, which jumped out to a shock lead seven minutes in through Brian Cipenga, held a slim lead for more than an hour through resolute defense and brilliant goalkeeping from Lionel Mpisa, who made six saves on the day. But Kane finally found England’s breakthrough in the 75th minute when he got free in the middle of the box and snuck a header past Mpsia, who did get a hand on it, but not enough to stop it. It was his 12th career World Cup goal and his 83rd for England, but he had never celebrated so passionately, with an understandable wave of relief washing over him and his Three Lions, who were staring into the abyss and entering panic mode.
England’s onslaught continued, and moments after Mpasi turned away Jude Bellingham for a fourth time, Kane sent the Three Lions into the Round of 16 in the 86th minute with a booming right-footed effort from the top of the penalty area that torched the upper-right corner of the goal. It left Mpasi no chance, and perhaps the harshest of finishes for such a valiant Congo, which captivated the world by emerging from a harsh group that was headlined by a 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
England’s slow start turned into a nightmare when Cipenga, who plays his club soccer in the second division of Spain, put Congo ahead in the seventh minute. The midfielder had never scored for his national side before, but managed to sneak a low shot from the left of the box past keeper Jordan Pickford at the near post — a shot the Everton man should have done better with.
But the Three Lions as a whole had to do better, as an embarrassingly poor 20 minutes was slowed only by the hydration break. On the other side of it, England shifted into a different gear, but Mpasi was unbeatable in the first half.
Bellingham had a pair of headers in the 30th minute, and at the 45+2 mark was saved by the Congo keeper. In the 35th minute, Marcus Rashford got on the end of a Noni Madueke cross at the left post and had an open net to shoot at, but it was cleared off the line by defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Congo should have had a second in the 42nd minute when Yoanne Wissa one-timed a Wan-Bissaka cross from point-blank range, but he hit the right post.
England had a deserved shout for a penalty just one minute later when a long ball over the top sent Kane through on Mpasi, who attempted to beat the striker to the ball. He did not, though. Kane got a touch and sent it toward the right touch line, and Mpasi got a piece of the Bayern Munich star’s leg, sending him to the pitch. Jordanian referee Adham Makhademeh claimed that Kane simulated a dive, and a shockingly quick VAR check did not prompt the official to review what appeared to be a clear penalty.
But England kept the pressure up, and Kane got on the end of a corner from the left at the far post and cannoned a volley with the right foot that Mpasi managed to save, rather painfully, with his groin.
While Congo defended for its life for most of the second half, it had one last-gasp opportunity in the final minute of stoppage time when it was awarded a free kick from just outside the box, but Wissa’s attempt fizzed just over the crossbar.
It is the first time that England has come back to win a World Cup match in which it trailed since the 1966 Final against West Germany — the only time the European powers lifted the famous trophy. It has still never lost to an African nation at the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s men will face co-hosts Mexico at the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on July 6 — the first time England will play there in a World Cup since Argentina’s Diego Maradona’s famous brace in 1986, which featured the controversial “Hand of God” tally.
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