England 2-1 DR Congo: Harry Kane double rescues Three Lions in World Cup
Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as Thomas Tuchel’s England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and seal a World Cup last-16 spot.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked to be sliding toward an ignominious Round of 32 exit after Brian Cipenga stunned the favorites with a clinical seventh-minute opener. England toiled heavily in the oppressive Georgia heat, falling victim to a stubborn Congolese defensive wall and missing an edge in the final third.
The Leopards almost doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Yoane Wissa capitalised on defensive hesitancy, only to see his close-range effort strike the post. It proved to be the turning point of a gripping knockout encounter.
Tuchel turned to his bench on the hour mark, introducing Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, and the tactical gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. Gordon injected immediate urgency on the left flank and delivered a pin-point cross in the 75th minute for Kane to power home a crucial equalizer.
With extra time looming, the England captain produced a moment of genuine world-class quality in the 86th minute. Receiving another pass from Gordon at the edge of the area, Kane turned sharply away from his marker before rifling an unstoppable, rising shot into the roof of the net.
The brace moves Kane to 13 career World Cup goals—leveling the legendary Pelé and marks the first time in England’s history that they have won a World Cup match after trailing at the interval.
While the performance will leave Tuchel with plenty of questions regarding his side’s defensive fragility, the Three Lions survived the scare to secure a mouthwatering last-16 showdown against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City next Monday.
