For 75 minutes in Atlanta, England were heading for a humiliating World Cup exit. Then Harry Kane did what he does best.
The Bayern Munich striker scored twice in a frantic finale to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory over DR Congo, booking a last-16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
“Harry Kane scored twice as England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 and set up a last-16 tie with Mexico.”
England had been stunned after just seven minutes when Brian Cipenga rifled in at Jordan Pickford's near post, the defence caught at sixes and sevens. For the next hour, Thomas Tuchel's side huffed and puffed against a inspired Lionel Mpasi, who made a series of brilliant saves – three in the first half alone. Jude Bellingham was denied twice before the break, while Kane was kept quiet by Chancel Mbemba.
But with 15 minutes remaining, the captain took over. Anthony Gordon, who set up both goals after coming off the bench, dug out a cross and Kane nodded home the equaliser. Then came a moment of pure centre-forward brilliance: surrounded by defenders, Kane found space and unleashed a technically outstanding strike that soared into the roof of the net, leaving Mpasi rooted.
“From now I'm going to call him Sir Harry Kane,” said Thierry Henry on CBS in America. “You guys were looking for answers. He by himself was the answer.”
Kane was rated 9/10 by the Guardian, with Gordon also earning a 9 for his two assists. But the performance raised concerns: Ezri Konsa had a nightmare, caught out for the goal and always panicked in possession, earning a 4. Djed Spence also scored 4, while Marcus Rashford was a 3 after miscontrolling the ball out of play and delivering a terrible cross.
England now face Mexico in the last 16, a daunting prospect at the Azteca fortress. But with Kane in this form, Tuchel’s side have hope – even if they need their leader to bail them out once more.