The clock in Atlanta’s futuristic stadium showed four minutes remaining when Harry Kane took a pass from substitute Anthony Gordon, shifted the ball away from a DR Congo defender and unleashed a stunning right-foot strike high past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who barely had time to move. England were heading for embarrassment on the scale of the Euro 2016 last-16 loss to Iceland and the 1950 World Cup defeat against the United States until their captain intervened.
Kane had already powered a header past Mpasi with 15 minutes left, cancelling out an early goal from DR Congo winger Brian Cipenga that had left England’s World Cup campaign – and perhaps Thomas Tuchel’s time in charge – withering away under the roof away from Atlanta’s searing heat and stifling humidity. The German head coach followed Kane onto the pitch in celebration after the winner, which sent England into the last 16 and a showdown with co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca at 1am UK time on Monday.
“Harry Kane scores twice to rescue England from World Cup exit, beating DR Congo 2-1 and setting up last-16 clash with Mexico.”
Kane now has five goals in this World Cup, joining Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. “They are all sharks,” Tuchel said. “They smell blood.” The relief was palpable for Tuchel, who would surely have been unable to survive such embarrassment had England lost, irrespective of his contract extension. Relief, too, for the Football Association, who placed such faith in the German and handed him the sole mission of winning this World Cup.
For Kane, it was another record-breaking moment in a career littered with greatness – but none to match what he produced here. The celebration was for that place in the last 16; the relief will have been Tuchel’s. England’s reaction was an explosion of celebration and sheer relief, a largely dreadful performance transformed into dramatic victory by their magnificent captain.