England 2-1 – Harry Kane struck twice late to rescue England from a nightmare start as DR Congo shocked them in Atlanta. After Brian Cipenga’s early opener and a first-half penalty appeal waved away, England’s captain delivered again—sending the side into the World Cup last
The night in Atlanta started like a nightmare and nearly stayed that way. Brian Cipenga scored his first-ever international goal for DR Congo after just seven minutes. silencing England early and leaving Jordan Pickford looking at a near-post shot he should have guarded. For long stretches. the visitors looked out of sorts—too many defenders stepping out of position. set-piece problems compounding the unease. and one moment after another pushing Thomas Tuchel’s team toward the edge.
Then the comeback arrived the way only Harry Kane seems to understand: late, decisive, and impossible to ignore. Kane was adamant he should have had a penalty toward the end of the first half after appearing to be brought down by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. but the Jordanian referee waved away his claims. With England’s dreams fading, the all-time record goalscorer stepped in again at the exact moment the game demanded it.
Kane dragged England back into it with a header from Anthony Gordon’s cross with 15 minutes remaining. Four minutes later. he powered home the winner—his sensational second of the night sparking pandemonium as England completed a 2-1 comeback. It wasn’t England’s best performance by any means. and there will be plenty to work on before they meet Mexico in the early hours of Monday at the fearsome Azteca Stadium. the scene of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal 40 years ago.
England’s breakthrough finally came when their manager made it happen. Substitutes Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon changed the rhythm. Gordon—brought on for Marcus Rashford in the 61st minute—produced two assists for Kane and looked far sharper than anything England had seen from him earlier in the tournament.
Kane’s late intervention also extended his World Cup story into new territory. He scored his 12th and 13th World Cup goals, moving past Pele in the all-time list, and he was mobbed by his teammates after turning a collapsing position into a rescue.
Player ratings: who struggled, who steadied, and who made it work
Jordan Pickford: 4/10
The opener was a clean strike from Cipenga, but Pickford should have done better. He got a hand to it yet was beaten in the near-post area—an outcome keepers are expected to prevent. After that, England offered him only one save to make, and he didn’t look like his usual self.
Djed Spence: 5/10
Some of the blame for the Congo goal can sit with England’s defensive positioning. and Spence was exposed as the centre backs went AWOL. He did get forward better this time. but he was still on the wrong end of Tuchel’s anger on a few occasions. England need more from right back if they are to last in this tournament.
Ezri Konsa: 4/10
Konsa was dragged out of position for the early goal and then lost Yoane Wissa when the Newcastle striker struck a post from close range. He lost composure during a nervy spell in the first half when England’s defence was all at sea, though he recovered after the break.
Marc Guehi: 5/10
Like Konsa, Guehi vacated his position too quickly for the opener and left space. He looked anxious throughout the first half, but he did settle as the match wore on and grew into containing DR Congo’s threat.
Nico O’Reilly: 5/10
He often stepped into midfield and generally got through his work without causing problems. but there wasn’t enough evidence of the quality he has shown at club level. Even so. he was England’s best bet at left back and is still missing belief and conviction to impact games more directly.
Elliot Anderson: 7/10
Anderson tried to make things happen in the first half—getting on the ball. picking passes. covering ground—yet he couldn’t get England going. That changed after the break, and he was better once Declan Rice moved to right back. His pass freed Jude Bellingham for the build-up to the second goal. and he didn’t hide; he became a leader in the final half-hour.
Declan Rice: 6/10
The set-pieces were dreadful in the first half, and his delivery left England vulnerable. But his open-play pass for one Bellingham chance was superb. Questions remain about his midfield influence because he didn’t protect the defence when needed. even though he looked stronger and more composed at right back. The suggestion was clear: that should be where he stays, with more creativity arriving from the middle.
Noni Madueke: 5/10
Madueke saw plenty of the ball, beat his man, and created chances—but again, he ended with no goals or assists. He was also guilty of not tracking back for the Congo goal.
Jude Bellingham: 6/10
Bellingham looked set to be the rescue man in the first half. ghosting onto free headers. only to meet an inspired keeper. He faded in the second half and England needed Kane’s superhero moment to finish the job. but Bellingham did still get into good areas and played his part in the comeback.
Marcus Rashford: 3/10
This was an hour to forget. Rashford was loose in possession, offered no real resistance in defence, and showed the wrong body language. He had one effort cleared off the line, but he didn’t create enough quality beyond that. When one misplaced cross drew boos from the crowd, he was hooked.
Harry Kane (captain): 9/10
Sensational. England don’t survive without him. The equaliser dragged the team back off the canvas, and Kane wasn’t finished there. England thought Bellingham would be the ultimate moment player. but Kane delivered the winner as a captain does in a moment of need. He was unlucky not to win a penalty. and instead of letting injustice break his rhythm. he kept England alive and then closed the game.
Kane’s second of the night came to put England in front late on—his 72nd goal of the season for club and country.
Substitutes
Bukayo Saka (on for Noni Madueke, 61 min): 6/10
Saka’s first touch bounced off him and out of play, but he improved as the game opened up. His threat forced Congo to retreat.
Anthony Gordon (on for Marcus Rashford, 61 min): 8/10
Gordon was brought on to change the game, and he did. Two assists for Kane were exactly what he was brought on to do. He looked so much better than the version England had seen earlier in the tournament.
Eberechi Eze (on for Djed Spence, 70 min): 6/10
England scored both goals with him on the pitch, so he deserves credit.
John Stones (on for Declan Rice, 92 min): 5/10
Stones arrived late for a tired Rice in the dying moments.
A manager’s moment, and a performance that still hurts
Thomas Tuchel: 7/10
The introduction of Gordon and Saka helped change the game, and that’s the sort of tweak managers have to make. Still, this was another worrying display across the whole 90 minutes, and England will need a huge improvement.
One key thread ran through the night: when England’s defence repeatedly stepped out of position, DR Congo punished them fast. When England tightened up their approach—especially after Gordon’s introduction—the game shifted. Kane did the rest.
England vs DR Congo Harry Kane World Cup last 16 Mexico Thomas Tuchel Jordan Pickford Brian Cipenga Lionel Mpasi Anthony Gordon Bukayo Saka player ratings