England produced a classic tournament comeback to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice in the second half to turn the match on its head and etch his name deeper into World Cup folklore.
The early stages belonged to the Leopards. Against the run of play, DR Congo stunned the favorites in the seventh minute when Brian Cipenga opened his senior international account.
A sweeping switch of play from Chancel Mbemba found its way into the box, and Cipenga calmly controlled before smashing a low right-footed shot past Jordan Pickford.
The disciplined Congolese low block had done its job perfectly, soaking up England’s early pressure and striking with lethal precision on the counter.
For much of the first half, England dominated possession (59%) but looked increasingly frustrated, struggling to break down a compact and well-organized DR Congo defense. Long periods of probing passing yielded little in terms of clear-cut chances as the Leopards remained dangerous on the break.
The tension remained sky-high until the 74th minute, when Anthony Gordon whipped in a pinpoint cross from the left. Kane timed his run to perfection, rising powerfully between defenders to crash a header past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and level the scores. The equalizer ignited the England squad, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
Kane would deliver the decisive blow just 11 minutes later. Once again, Gordon was the architect with another dangerous delivery, and the England skipper made no mistake, steering a low finish into the net to complete the turnaround. The 85th-minute winner not only secured progression but also took Kane to 13 World Cup goals, moving him clear of Brazilian legend Pelé on the all-time scoring list.
With the victory, England now advance to the Round of 16, where they will face tournament co-hosts Mexico on Monday, July 6, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. For Gareth Southgate’s side, this was the kind of gritty, resilient performance that championship runs are built on and for Kane, another chapter in an already storied international career.
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