Harry Kane struck twice in the final quarter of an extraordinary match to rescue England from one of their most embarrassing World Cup exits, securing a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday. The Bayern Munich striker, already England's all-time top scorer in the competition with 13 World Cup goals, headed in an equaliser on 75 minutes before rifling a precise drive into the roof of the net in the 86th to complete the comeback. England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16 on 6 July at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The match began in shocking fashion for England. Defender Djed Spence was caught under a cross from Congo captain Chancel Mbemba, and the ball fell to Brian Cipenga, who swept a low, hard shot past Jordan Pickford at his near post in just the seventh minute. The early goal unsettled a clearly rattled England, with Jude Bellingham booked for a reckless challenge and later involved in a heated exchange with coach Thomas Tuchel during a hydration break. DR Congo — playing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, a nation that had never won a point or scored a tournament goal before this edition — were well-organised in a 5-3-2 system and looked genuinely dangerous on the counter. Yoane Wissa, the Newcastle United striker who had scored three goals in the group stage, came agonisingly close to doubling the lead, striking the outside of the post from point-blank range.
At the heart of Congo's resistance was goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who plays his club football for Le Havre in France's Ligue 1 and had featured only four times for his club this season. He was exceptional throughout, denying Bellingham twice with reflex saves — once from a diving header, once from close range — and also turning away Kane late in the first half. England's dominance was near total but almost entirely sterile, and a disputed penalty appeal when Kane collided with Mpasi was rejected even after a VAR review. Tuchel eventually turned to his bench, sending on Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze to inject pace and width. It was Gordon — recently signed by Barcelona — who delivered the cross for Kane's equalising header, and Gordon again who assisted the winner, which Kane finished with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
Defeat ends DR Congo's remarkable tournament run. A squad featuring five Premier League players and a goalkeeper who had barely played club football this season pushed one of the world's top-ranked sides to the brink of elimination. For England, who are aiming to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy, the performance will raise serious questions ahead of a daunting fixture in one of football's most storied arenas — the Azteca, the very stadium where Argentina eliminated England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Kane, now on 84 international goals, was measured in his post-match assessment, calling it a match that demanded a hero while insisting England had played their best football of the tournament — a claim his teammates may find hard to echo.