England 2-1 DR Congo: Harry Kane rescues Three Lions from brink of World Cup exit with superb late double to set up tricky tie with hosts Mexico – after worrying performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side

In a futuristic, gleaming steel stadium, protected from the infernal heat of the outside by a translucent dome, England spent 68 minutes struggling with nightmares and staring back at what would rank as the worst defeat in their history, alongside their defeat against the USA in the 1950 Belo Horizonte World Cup.

England, undone by their own terrible defending in that Round of 32 match, kept at bay by a heroic performance from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and denied what looked like a sure penalty by the Jordanian referee for a foul on Harry Kane, were dogged by humiliating thoughts of an early exit as they came close to winning the World Cup.

Instead, it’s just Harry Kane. It’s actually that simple. Of course, Jude Bellingham played like a giant again and Anthony Gordon made a huge difference when he came off the bench, but just 15 minutes into a crushing 1-0 defeat, Kane rose to his feet to earn England a last-16 draw with Mexico City at the magnificent Azteca Stadium on Sunday evening.

Kane came to the rescue as he often did. He scored 2 goals in 11 minutes. His first goal was a solid header, cleverly gaining space that finally broke Mpasi’s resistance. The second was a bullet that not even Mpasi and England’s other old goalkeeping nemesis, Jan Tomaszewski, could save. He almost blew up the network.

Kane’s goals mean he is level with Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race on five goals. Only six-year-old Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have more. It’s time for us to start realizing that Kane is a phenomenon.

He has now scored more goals for England than Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer combined. He will definitely be England’s first goal-scoring captain. I have always regarded Paul Gascoigne as the best player England have produced since 1966. Now Kane has usurped it. Their achievements are breathtaking.

After equalizing in the 75th minute, he put in a superb performance and earned the late score.

Just when it looked like England would bow out of the World Cup, Kane eventually equalized with a header in the 75th minute and then walked away to celebrate with Jude Bellingham.

And so England surrendered. While everyone was wondering where a defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo would stand, along with the defeat of the USA and the elimination of Iceland in Euro 2016, Kane came to the fore again with his 12th and 13th goals in the World Cups. No matter how hard everyone tries this season, no one can keep the England captain down.

Although England rallied furiously and held the majority of the game, the manner of the victory and the emotional impact it had on them and the fans does not bode well for their prospects in Mexico. They will need to play much better than this to get past their co-hosts in a match played at high altitude in front of their own fans.

It was hard not to sympathize with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Leopards came to this tournament looking to exorcise the ghosts of a previous World Cup appearance in 1974; Playing as Zaire, they lost 9–0 to Yugoslavia and became the butt of jokes during the draw against Brazil when one of their players burst off the wall and cleared the ball before a free kick was taken.

They achieved this goal here. They qualified for the knockout stage and guided England to qualification there. They can leave here feeling proud of their performance. These are not jokes anymore. The joke almost involved England.

There was no need for their back four to be selected. When a cross was played towards the edge of the England penalty area, Konsa drifted too far to his left, allowing Spence to be left alone with Noah Sadiki and Brian Cipenga.

Spence challenged Sadiki in the air but both men missed and the ball fell at Cipenga’s feet. He took a touch and then fired a low shot past Jordan Pickford at the near post. Pickford should have saved it but he looked uncharacteristically indecisive at this World Cup and his mistake fit a pattern.

England was shaken. DR Congo looked hungrier and more eager. They oppressed England brutally and England found it difficult to cope. Pickford hit a rash shot that belied his nerves. Jude Bellingham was shown a yellow card for a rash and lunging challenge on Nathaniel Mbuku. England’s fans began to grow restless as they watched the chaos unfold in front of them.

Kane gives rousing speech to his team after leading England into a difficult game

Brian Cipenga stunned England with an early goal to give DR Congo a shock lead in Atlanta

DR Congo found him alone on the left wing and he beat Jordan Pickford at the near post.

The first quarter ending with an ad break couldn’t have come at a better time for England. They urgently needed to regroup. Shortly afterwards Declan Rice created England’s first match chance. Bellingham’s deep cross was met with a fine header but Lionel Mpasi launched himself to his left and cleared the ball.

England pushed hard for equality. Axel Tuanzebe’s excellent tackle denied Harry Kane but the ball came loose and Marcus Rashford side-footed it towards goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was on the line and blocked the shot with both knees.

England’s defense was still terrible. Wan-Bissaka was given time and space to deliver a low cross to the near post, which Yoane Wissa met unchallenged. He failed to make a clean connection and the ball hit the outside of the post. This was a great escape for England.

A few minutes later, DR Congo was granted a reprieve of their own. Kane cleverly ran onto a through ball from Tuanzebe and tapped the ball past Mpasi. Mpasi dived at his feet. The goalkeeper missed the ball and caught Kane with his foot. It looked like a clear penalty.

However, according to referee Adham Makhadmeh, this is not valid. The Jordanian official stated that he believed Kane had dived. He believed that Kane had invited the contact. Wayne Rooney expressed much the same view. Kane looked confused. There was a policy in this tournament not to override on-field decisions, but this time there was a reason for doing so.

England redoubled its efforts. They could no longer be accused of fading. Noni Madueke curled into a beautiful cross that Bellingham met just right. Mpasi made another great save. With time added to the end of the half, Mpasi saved again from Kane’s volley. I felt as if Mpasi was unbeatable. The echoes of Jan Tomaszewski’s magnificently defiant performance for Poland against England at Wembley in 1973 have grown louder over the years.

Jude Bellingham had a great chance to equalize but couldn’t direct his header for a corner

England denied what appeared to be a wall penalty after Kane made contact in the area, but it was ruled by the referee and VAR that Thomas Tuchel had lost his temper.

Moments later DR Congo Lionel Mpasi put his body on the line to stop Kane from scoring

Five minutes after half-time, Rashford turned his man inside out but then squandered the chance by sending the ball into the side netting. A minute later Mpasi showed more heroics, twisting in the air when Bellingham’s shot caused the defender to deflect heavily. Somehow Mpasi kept the ball out with his right hand and the ball went clear.

An hour passed and Madueke and Rashford were replaced by Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon. Fifteen minutes later it was Gordon who helped make the difference. His deflected shot saw Kane ghost into the six-yard box. Tuanzebe let go of the ball and released him, and Kane sent his header past Mpasi, who was eventually beaten.

DR Congo is starting to get tired. England sensed the opportunity. Five minutes later Mpasi pulled off another save from Bellingham but Gordon picked up the loose ball and fed Kane. Kane ran from the edge of the penalty area, evaded a challenge and slotted the ball into the net.

Kane was attacked by his teammates, who were amazed by his finishing. In the background, Bellingham fell to his knees as a gesture of thanks and relief. He spoke on behalf of a nation.