Harry Kane salvaged England's World Cup campaign with two late goals, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over DR Congo and advancing the team to a Round of 16 clash with Mexico. The captain's brace, scored in the final 15 minutes of the match, prevented an early exit that would have been considered one of England's worst World Cup defeats.
DR Congo had taken a surprising lead in the first half through Brian Cipenga, who capitalized on defensive lapses. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was beaten at his near post by Cipenga's low shot. England struggled for much of the match, facing a strong performance from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and questioning calls from the referee, including a denied penalty claim for Kane.
Despite periods of pressure and opportunities for players like Jude Bellingham, England could not find an equalizer until the 75th minute. Kane headed home a cross to level the score. Just five minutes later, he secured the win with a powerful shot into the net, completing his late surge.
Kane's goals place him level with Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race with five goals, trailing only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. His international goal tally now surpasses that of Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer combined. The victory, however, highlighted significant defensive vulnerabilities and a shaky performance from Pickford, raising concerns about England's ability to advance further in the tournament, especially in their upcoming match against Mexico at altitude.
DR Congo, who entered the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history, were praised for their spirited performance. They managed to hold England at bay for 68 minutes and can leave the tournament with pride, having exorcised the memory of their previous World Cup appearance in 1974.
The match saw England's backline exposed early on. A cross into the box found Cipenga, who rifled a shot past Pickford. England rallied, with Bellingham having a header saved by Mpasi, and Marcus Rashford's follow-up blocked on the line. DR Congo also had a chance to extend their lead when Yoane Wissa met a low cross but narrowly missed the target.
A contentious moment occurred when Kane went down in the box after appearing to be caught by Mpasi, but the referee ruled it a dive, a decision that drew frustration from the England bench. Mpasi continued his impressive display, saving from Bellingham and Kane before halftime.
In the second half, Anthony Gordon, who came on as a substitute, played a key role in setting up Kane's equalizing header. The winning goal also originated from a situation where Gordon retrieved a rebound and fed Kane, who then created space for himself before scoring.