Atlanta, July 2 (). England made it to the next round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by defeating DR Congo 2-1 in the ‘Round of 32’ match on Wednesday. Now on July 6, this team will face Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium.
In this match played at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, captain Harry Kane played brilliantly and scored two goals, which helped England make a comeback after falling behind by one goal.
Thomas Tuchel’s team was trailing from the seventh minute itself. Brian Sipenga scored the first goal for DR Congo in the 7th minute, but Harry Kane scored an equalizing goal in the 75th minute and then turned the match by scoring a brilliant winning goal in the 86th minute.
This is the first time in the World Cup since 1986 that the ‘Three Lions’ (England team) have won the match after trailing by one goal at half-time and recovered from the difficult situation to reach the ‘Round of 16’.
The 1966 FIFA World Cup champion England team had never lost in its previous nine World Cup matches against African teams. This team has maintained this record in Atlanta also.
After Germany and the Netherlands exited the World Cup at the knock-out stage, it looked as if England might also head home early as they were still a goal behind after an hour of play. They created several chances in the second half but were stopped by Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mapasi; He made some brilliant saves and kept Congo’s hopes alive till the end of the match.
Congo had never played a World Cup knockout match before, yet they got off to a great start with Sipenga’s first international goal in the seventh minute. A cross-field ball from the right was headed by Chancel Mbemba to Sipenga. Sipenga was completely empty on the left side of the box and fired a low shot that beat Jordan Pickford at his near post.
England took some time to make a comeback and then created several good chances. DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made brilliant saves from two headers from Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, Noni Madueke’s run into the box created an opportunity for Rashford to shoot at the far post, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared it off the goal-line. Then, just before half-time, Mpasi blocked Kane’s close-range volley following a corner.
On the other hand, Congo could have scored the second goal. Yoane Wissa hit Wan-Bissaka’s low center onto the post, but the team missed the target.
Tuchel’s changes to the wingers raised hopes of a comeback in the team. Substitute Anthony Gordon put in a cross for Kane and Kane scored with a header. Number 13 certainly proved lucky for England, as Kane moved away from his marker and fired an unstoppable shot inside the near post. Kane ensured England’s victory by scoring goals in the 75th and 86th minutes.
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