Kane Scores Twice to Drag England Past Congo DR 2-1: Mexico Await at the Azteca

[Midnight Wolf]

Harry Kane rescued England in the most Kane way imaginable. A 75th-minute header to equalise and a stunning right-footed strike four minutes from time to win it, both assisted by Anthony Gordon, completed a comeback from a goal down as England beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, advancing to the round of 16 against Mexico in Mexico City.

The match nearly became one of the most embarrassing nights in English football history. Brian Cipenga gave Congo DR the lead after just seven minutes, firing low past Pickford from a well-worked move started by Mbemba's long diagonal ball that exposed Spence's positioning. England responded with the 73.9 percent statistical confidence nobody actually felt, spending the next 68 minutes battering a Congo DR side led by goalkeeper Mpasi who produced one of the great individual goalkeeping performances of this World Cup. Mpasi denied Bellingham three times, twice from headers and once from a stunning close-range effort. He denied Kane. He denied Saka. He clawed a shot off his own line with a defender scrambling alongside him.

Wissa hit the post when it was 0-1. The game teetered on the edge of one of the tournament's great upsets. Then Gordon found Kane at the back post in the 75th minute and the captain headed home. Then Gordon found Kane again from a different angle in the 86th and Kane, spinning to create space, drove a right-footed shot into the corner with enough conviction that Mpasi, who had stopped everything else, simply had nowhere to go. England are through. Mexico at the Azteca on Monday July 6. The pubs in England have been opened since this morning and the scenes after the 86th minute were remarkable. England sing Wonderwall together with their players after games now and that tradition appears to be holding.

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