Harry Kane needed just eleven second-half minutes to turn near-disaster into deliverance. England trailed at the break in front of a raucous Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd in Atlanta, but their captain scored twice — in the 75th and 86th minutes — to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1, according to ESPN's match report.
The trouble started almost immediately. Seven minutes in, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba lofted a ball beyond a stranded Djed Spence, and Brian Cipenga raced onto it, beating goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at his near post to spark wild scenes on the Congolese bench. Spence was the third different player England had started at right-back in four matches — a reflection of the injury problems that have plagued the position with Reece James sidelined, as Sky Sports detailed in its player ratings. For a nation returning to the tournament for the first time since 1974 — when it competed as Zaire — the early lead was a stunning statement.
England spent the rest of the first half pressing without breaking through. Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was the difference-maker, denying both Kane and a header from Jude Bellingham, while at the other end Yoane Wissa struck the post and nearly doubled DR Congo's advantage.
The match tilted when Thomas Tuchel introduced Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka together in the 61st minute. Gordon quickly became the game's decisive figure, setting up both of Kane's goals — first with a cross that Kane headed home to level it, then with a pass that let his captain turn and drive a shot into the roof of the net for the winner, as NBC News described the sequence.
It was just the second time England have won a World Cup match after conceding first — the only other instance coming in the 1966 final. Declan Rice also spent a late stretch filling in at right-back, a role he called "the hardest 12 minutes of the game," according to Goal.com.
Afterward, Tuchel treated the scare as a lesson rather than a red flag. "We kept knocking to crack that rock," he said, praising his side's resilience even as Mpasi frustrated them for long stretches, per England's official site. He was blunter about how ugly it got: matches rarely go entirely to plan, he said, "but that's not how it is" once the opposition scores first and digs in.
Book Date With Mexico at Estadio Azteca
England now advances to face co-host Mexico at Estadio Azteca — kicking off Sunday evening, July 5 in Mexico City (1am Monday, July 6, UK time). Mexico has yet to concede a goal on home soil through four matches this tournament.
