England vs DR Congo

Photography by: Gabriel Bayona Sapag

Thomas Tuchel's England escaped the brink of one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, rallying from behind to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta as Harry Kane's late brace rescued the Three Lions and booked a Round of 16 showdown with co-hosts Mexico.

For nearly 70 minutes, England looked destined for an early exit.

Making their first-ever appearance in a World Cup knockout match, DR Congo played without fear and stunned the favorites after just seven minutes. Chancel Mbemba's pinpoint delivery caught England's back line out of shape, allowing Brian Cipenga to rifle a low finish beyond Jordan Pickford for his first international goal.

The early breakthrough rattled England. Their buildup lacked rhythm, the defense looked vulnerable whenever Congo attacked in transition, and frustration quickly crept in. Jude Bellingham was booked after a rash challenge, while Kane was left furious after a strong penalty appeal before halftime was waved away despite contact from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

If not for Mpasi's inspired performance, England may have found a route back sooner. The Le Havre goalkeeper produced a string of outstanding saves to deny Bellingham twice, Kane from close range, and Marcus Rashford after the break, while Yoane Wissa nearly doubled Congo's advantage when he struck the post before halftime.

Tuchel's substitutions ultimately changed the match.

Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka injected fresh energy down the flanks, and England finally found the breakthrough in the 75th minute. Gordon floated an inviting cross into the area, where Kane rose above his marker to power home the equalizer.

With momentum finally shifting, England kept pushing. Eleven minutes later, Gordon was involved again, slipping the ball to Kane on the edge of the box. The captain needed only a yard of space before unleashing a thunderous finish into the roof of the net, completing the comeback and sending the England supporters into celebration.

The victory was far from convincing, but it was historic. England had never before won a World Cup match after trailing at halftime, ending a streak of nine previous attempts without success. Kane's brace also took him to 13 career World Cup goals, further cementing his place among the tournament's greatest scorers.

Still, the performance leaves plenty for Tuchel to ponder. England were repeatedly exposed defensively, struggled to create sustained pressure for long stretches, and relied heavily on Kane's clinical finishing to avoid an embarrassing exit.

Those flaws will face a far sterner examination in the next round, where a trip to the Azteca awaits. Against a confident Mexico side backed by a home crowd, England will need far more than late heroics if they hope to keep their World Cup alive.