Harry Kane’s brace fired England into the Round of 16 with a comeback 2-1 victory over DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
Kane smashed in a 86th-minute winner from Anthony Gordon’s slipped pass on the rebound, after Lionel Mpasi had blocked Jude Bellingham’s shot.
Brian Cipenga rifled DR Congo into a shock seventh-minute lead from Chancel Mbemba’s forward cross, before Kane nodded England level from Gordon’s 75th-minute cross.
Kane post-match told UK broadcaster, BBC that the Three Lions are just focused to edging their way “through” each round no matter how easy or difficult the game is.
“Ultimately, these rounds are just about getting through. I think the boss spoke about it before the game. We are in the part of the tournament where you have to grind games out and that’s what we did today.”
England will now meet Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Sunday 5 July at 6pm CST (1am BST, Monday 6 July) in the Round of 16.
Despite their underdog status, DR Congo impressively soaked up England’s early pressure until they ventured forward in the seventh minute and Mbemba flicked a cross forward for Cipenga to smash in past Jordan Pickford unmarked to give the African minnows a shock lead.
England subsequently cranked up their intensity as Bellingham curled a 15th-minute cross wide, whilst Marcus Rashford two minutes later saw a cross punched away by Lionel Mpasi.
Ezri Konsa then flicked a 27th-minute free-kick wide off his right knee as Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions experienced further frustrations.
Bellingham saw a 30th-minute header cleared in another piece of frustration which further grew five minutes later, as Axel Tuanzebe blocked Harry Kane, which allowed Noni Madueke to tee up Rashford whose shot was blocked on the line.
DR Congo almost further grew their lead in the 42nd minute through Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross which deflected off Nico O’Reilly, yet Yoane Wissa struck the right post from close range rather than his near-bottom right corner.
England almost won a penalty a minute later after Kane was played forward into the box only to be collected by Mpasi just as Tuanzebe shoves him into the box, yet referee – Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh bizarrely refused to award a penalty.
Mpasi then denied Bellingham’s header and a shot from Kane in first-half injury to protect DR Congo’s shock lead into half time.
England continued their late first-half intensity early in the second half as Rashford lashed a shot into the side-netting and headed over the bar, whilst Mpasi flapped away Bellingham’s 53rd-minute shot.
Patience though was needed as DR Congo defended resolutely until Rice saw a cross deep into the 74th minute go high across box, yet Gordon collected the ball and whipped a cross back in which Kane nodded into the left corner to level just moments into the 75th minute.
Elliot Anderson fired a 79th-minute shot over then Mpasi saved Gordon’s 85th-minute header from Anderson’s cross.
Mpasi however couldn’t prevent late heartbreak a minute later as he blocked Bellingham’s shot, only for Gordon to pick up the rebounding ball and cut in-between two DR Congo players before he slipped Kane through to smash in beyond Mpasi’s reach on the half-turn to complete England’s comeback.
Teams
England: Jordan Pickford, Djed Spence (Eze 70′), Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice (Stones 91′), Noni Madueke (Saka 61′), Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford (Gordon 61′), Harry Kane
Substitutes: Dan Burn, Trevoh Chalobah, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson, Reece James, Kobbie Mainoo, Jarell Quansah, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, John Stones, Ivan Toney, James Trafford, Ollie Watkins
DR Congo: Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku (J.Kayembe 89′), Ngal’ayel Mukau (E.Kayembe 76′), Samuel Moutoussamy (Mayele 89′), Noah Sadiki, Nathanael Mbuku, Yoane Wissa, Brian Cipenga (Bongonda 76′)
Substitutes: Cedric Bakambu, Simon Banza, Dylan Batubinsika, Theo Bongonda, Meschak Elia, Matthieu Epolo, Timothy Fayulu, Gael Kakuta, Fiston Mayele, Geodeon Kalulu, Steve Kapuadi, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Charles Pickel, Aaron Tshibola
Referee – Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (Jordan)