England 2-1 DR Congo: Kane’s Late Rocket Sends Three Lions into World Cup Last 16

Captain Kane at the double as England fight back to beat DR Congo

A 2-1 win over DR Congo sends England through to the World Cup last 16. Kane rescued Tuchel’s side after Mpasi had kept them out for much of the game.

Kane delivers at the death as England avoid upset against DR Congo...

England struggled through their Round of 32 clash with DR Congo, but two goals from skipper Harry Kane secured a 2-1 victory. The result sends the Three Lions into the World Cup last 16 after they fell behind early. 

England were already thinking about a possible last-16 tie with Mexico, but that optimism looked way off the mark within the first 10 minutes.

Chancel Mbemba switched play with a sweeping cross-field ball to the free Brian Cipenga. He drove inside and drilled a shot past Jordan Pickford at the near post. 

England had no answer after going behind, though they nearly got a lucky break when Declan Rice’s ball deflected off a startled Ezri Konsa and just missed the target.

The hydration break gave Thomas Tuchel’s side a chance to reset, and they carved out a clear opportunity to level right after. Noni Madueke reached the byline and cut it back into a dangerous spot, where Marcus Rashford drilled a low shot toward goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, his ex-Manchester United teammate, slid in to clear it off the line.

Even with England on top for a 15-minute spell, Yoane Wissa nearly killed the game off when he hammered a close-range shot against the outside of the post. 

Thomas Tuchel’s side were denied by bad luck twice before the break. First, Harry Kane went down under a challenge from onrushing keeper Lionel Mpasi and wanted a penalty, but the referee and VAR waved it away. Then Kane’s fierce far-post volley was kept out by an outstanding Mpasi save.

Chances kept coming for Tuchel’s side, and the break didn’t slow them down. Within 10 minutes of the restart, Rashford spurned a golden chance, blasting a left-footed shot into the side netting. 

England’s pressure wasn’t constant as the clock ran down, but their main man delivered when it mattered. With 15 minutes left, Kane redirected Anthony Gordon’s cross back across goal and into the far corner.

It was England’s all-time top World Cup scorer who settled it in the 86th minute. After Jude Bellingham was stopped, Kane fired a rocket into the roof of Mpasi’s net from the edge of the box. 

That strike was enough to send the Three Lions through to the last 16, where a tough test against Mexico awaits at the iconic Azteca. For DR Congo, a historic run ends with defeat in their first-ever knockout game.