Harry Kane struck twice in the final 15 minutes to rescue England from a shock World Cup exit against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Atlanta. Brian Cipenga had stunned Thomas Tuchel's side with a seventh-minute opener, but Kane's 75th-minute header and a fierce strike in the 86th minute turned the last-32 tie around.
Early Shock and England's Struggles
DR Congo took the lead when Cipenga's shot caught Jordan Pickford out at his near post. England struggled badly in the opening 20 minutes, with Jude Bellingham picking up a yellow card for a late tackle as frustration boiled over. The first hydration break provided some respite, and England composed themselves. Bellingham tested DRC goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi with a header, and Marcus Rashford had a shot cleared off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
England survived a big scare when Yoane Wissa hit the post with the goal at his mercy after a deflected Wan-Bissaka cross fell to him in the six-yard box. Moments later, England were denied a penalty when Kane went down in the area as he took the ball around Mpasi, but Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh waved away the appeals. There was contact, but Kane was falling before impact.
Mpasi's Heroics Keep England at Bay
Mpasi made a stunning save from a glancing Bellingham header and, before the interval, another solid save after Kane met a Declan Rice corner with a firm strike. Mpasi, second choice at his club Le Havre, was on a one-man mission to deny the Three Lions. As England's assistant coach Anthony Barry said in his half-time interview: "The goalkeeper is man of the match so far."
England continued to threaten after the break, with Rashford hitting the side netting after a run down the left before Mpasi clawed away a deflected Bellingham strike. Tuchel changed his wingers on the hour mark, with Bukayo Saka replacing Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon coming on for Rashford. Eberechi Eze replaced Djed Spence in the second hydration break as the England manager tried to change the increasingly desperate picture.
Kane's Late Double Seals the Win
Gordon played his part in finally making the breakthrough as his lobbed cross from the left was headed in by Kane, with Mpasi unable to keep out the effort despite getting a hand to it. Mpasi was then given no chance with Kane's second, as his rocket of a shot from just inside the area set up a clash with co-hosts Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in a 1am kick-off on Monday UK time.
