England’s narrow escape
England secured a place in the World Cup last 16 after Harry Kane scored two late goals to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in Atlanta. The victory prevented what could have been a significant upset for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who are aiming to end a long wait for a major tournament win. The Three Lions found themselves trailing early in the match after Brian Cipenga opened the scoring for Congo.
The early goal by Cipenga silenced the nearly 70,000-strong crowd, predominantly clad in England’s red and white. The goal came after Djed Spence was caught under Chancel Mbemba’s cross, allowing Cipenga to strike a low, hard shot. While Jordan Pickford might have been expected to save it at his near post, the ball found the net, putting England in a precarious position.
Tuchel had made two changes to the squad that defeated Panama, with Declan Rice returning to midfield and Spence starting at right-back. These changes were necessitated by injuries to Reece James and Jarell Quansah. The decision regarding the right-back position in the 26-man squad is expected to face further scrutiny following Congo’s goal, which originated from that flank.
Match dynamics and key moments
England’s players appeared unsettled after Congo took the lead. Jude Bellingham received a yellow card for a lunge and was later seen in a heated exchange with Coach Tuchel during a mid-half hydration break. This stoppage in play offered Tuchel an opportunity to address the team and attempt to regain composure.
Despite the early setback, England began to create chances. Bellingham’s powerful header from a cross by Rice forced Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, into action. Moments later, Marcus Rashford’s effort was blocked on the line by London-born Aaron Wan Bissaka after Noni Madueke’s run had opened up the Congo defense. However, England could have faced a larger deficit at halftime.
Yoane Wissa, who had scored three goals in the group stage to help his country reach the knockout stages for the first time, had a golden opportunity to double Congo’s lead but hit the outside of the post from close range. At the other end, Kane was denied a penalty after going down while attempting to round Mpasi. Mpasi continued his strong performance, parrying another header from Bellingham and denying Kane from a corner just before halftime.
Second-half turnaround
After a promising start to the second half, England struggled to find a breakthrough until Tuchel introduced offensive players from the bench. Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Eberechi Eze were brought on to bolster the attack in search of an equalizer. It was new Barcelona signing Gordon who provided the cross that allowed Kane to finally beat Mpasi with a downward header, leveling the score with approximately 15 minutes remaining.
Gordon was also instrumental in the winning goal, providing the assist for Kane’s strike in the 86th minute. Kane completed the comeback by powerfully driving the ball into the roof of the net, marking his 84th international goal. This victory ensures England’s progression in the tournament, despite the challenges posed by Congo.
Kane, already England’s all-time leading goalscorer in the competition, now has 13 World Cup goals and five goals in the current tournament, keeping him in contention for the Golden Boot. The defeat brought an end to Congo’s impressive run, marking their first appearance in the World Cup in 52 years. They had not previously earned a point or scored a goal in the competition until this tournament. England now faces the task of preparing for a match against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday in the last 16.
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Source: dawn.com
