Heartbreak for DR Congo as Harry Kane saves England

Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta, setting up a World Cup last‑16 tie against co‑hosts Mexico and dodging what would have been a disastrous early exit.

Thomas Tuchel’s team were given a genuine scare in their round‑of‑32 opener at the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, falling behind to Brian Cipenga’s seventh‑minute strike and spending most of the night wrestling with DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who kept England out until Kane finally broke through.

The win sends England on to Mexico City with momentum on the scoreboard if not in performance, and extends their unbeaten World Cup record against African opposition. DR Congo, playing their first ever World Cup knockout game, leave with credit but no reward.

Cipenga punishes England

England’s problems began almost immediately. Still feeling their way into the game, they were caught cold by a simple but brutally effective DR Congo move down the right.

A crossfield ball was flicked on into space on the left of England’s box, where Cipenga had peeled free. With England’s defensive line disorganised and Djed Spence exposed, Cipenga drove a low shot inside Jordan Pickford’s near post to make it 1-0 and silence the large England contingent in the stands. 

The goal rattled England. Tuchel’s side were passive, slow to press and repeatedly left gaps for DR Congo to exploit. The underdogs sensed vulnerability and pushed for a second, forcing England to scramble clear more than once.

Mpasi heroics keep England at bay

England did create chances, but Mpasi turned the first hour into his personal highlight reel.

Jude Bellingham was denied three times, twice with headers that looked destined for the corner until Mpasi reacted, and once with a powerful effort from the edge of the box that the goalkeeper beat away.  

Noni Madueke’s direct running opened another big chance, his burst into the box ending with a cut‑back that found Marcus Rashford at the far post. Rashford’s shot beat Mpasi but not Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, who recovered to clear off the line and preserve DR Congo’s lead.  

England’s frustration grew. Kane had a close‑range volley blocked from a corner and was left appealing for a penalty after contact from Mpasi inside the box, but the decision went against him. The pattern was clear: England were pushing, DR Congo were surviving, and the clock was draining away.

At the other end, DR Congo stayed dangerous. Yoane Wissa struck the post from a low centre, a reminder that England were one mistake away from real trouble.  

Tuchel’s subs change the game

Tuchel’s response was to lean on his bench. Fresh wingers added pace and width, stretching DR Congo’s compact block and finally forcing them to defend deeper.

Anthony Gordon’s introduction proved decisive. His willingness to attack the byline and deliver early crosses changed the dynamic, giving Kane the kind of service he had been starved of for most of the night.  

With England now camped in DR Congo’s half, the pressure began to feel inevitable rather than hopeful. The question was whether they could convert it before time ran out.

The equaliser arrived with 15 minutes left and felt like a release as much as a goal.

Gordon found space on the left and whipped in a precise cross. Kane, reading it early, attacked the ball and powered a header beyond Mpasi to make it 1-1 and drag England back from the brink. 

It was Kane’s 12th World Cup finals goal, moving him level with some of the game’s greats and, more importantly in the moment, resetting a tie that had been slipping away. DR Congo, who had defended superbly, suddenly had to absorb another wave of pressure with tired legs.

England, finally level, played with more freedom. The passing sharpened, the movement improved, and the sense grew that one more chance would come.

Stunning winner

Kane took it with the kind of ruthlessness that has defined his international career.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, England worked the ball around the edge of the box. Kane received it with his back to goal, spun away from his marker and unleashed a fierce shot inside the near post, giving Mpasi no chance and flipping the game completely. 

The strike was his 13th World Cup goal, taking him above Brazil legend Pelé in the all‑time tournament scoring charts and underlining his status as England’s difference‑maker. 

From there, England managed the closing minutes with more composure than they had shown earlier. DR Congo pushed, but the immediate chaos of the comeback gave way to controlled possession and sensible game management.

England’s flaws

The scoreline flatters the performance. England were disjointed for long spells, their defensive structure loose and their attacking patterns too predictable until Tuchel’s changes.

DR Congo exposed those issues repeatedly, exploiting space behind England’s press and forcing Pickford and his back line into uncomfortable positions. On another night, they might have gone 2-0 up and turned the contest into something far more damaging for England. 

Kane remains Tuchel’s safety net. When the game tightened, he delivered, first with the header, then with the emphatic winner. His movement, timing and finishing masked a lot of England’s problems and kept their World Cup alive.

Bellingham, despite his missed chances, was central to England’s attacking push. Rashford, Madueke and Gordon all had moments. Yet the story of the night is simple: England were rescued by their captain.

Mexico next, questions remain

The win sends England to the Azteca Stadium for a last‑16 showdown with Mexico, kicking off at 1am (BST) on Monday. 

It’s a step forward in the bracket, but not necessarily in performance. Tuchel’s side still look short of the control and fluency expected of contenders, and the defensive lapses that gave Cipenga his early chance will not go unnoticed by stronger opponents.

Still, tournament football is often about surviving nights like this. England did that, thanks to Kane, and kept their route to the final intact.

DR Congo, meanwhile, leave with a sense of what might have been. They led, they defended bravely, their goalkeeper produced a standout World Cup performance, and they pushed a heavyweight to the edge.

Featured Image via the Canary