England produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat DR Congo 2-1 after captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to rescue Thomas Tuchel’s side and book their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
It was a night that looked destined to end in disappointment for England after a fearless DR Congo side stunned the Three Lions with an early breakthrough.
Just seven minutes into the contest, DR Congo made the perfect start. Chancel Mbemba flicked a ball into the danger area, allowing Brian Cipenga to slip in behind the England defence and calmly finish past Jordan Pickford. Djed Spence was unable to prevent the finish as England’s defensive frailties were exposed, handing the African nation a dream opening.
England looked rattled after conceding. Their passing became rushed, the defence appeared unsettled, and moments of panic crept into their play. The hydration break midway through the first half arrived at the perfect time for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who desperately needed to regroup after an alarming opening 30 minutes.
Despite growing into the game, England found Lionel Mpasi impossible to beat. The DR Congo goalkeeper produced a stunning close-range save to deny Jude Bellingham after an excellent cross from Noni Madueke, before England were left frustrated when Harry Kane’s penalty appeals following contact with Mpasi were waved away by the referee.
DR Congo nearly doubled their advantage before the interval. Aaron Wan-Bissaka surged down the right and picked out Yoane Wissa, whose powerful effort crashed against the post, narrowly missing what would have been a devastating second goal.
England improved significantly after the restart. Their tempo increased, Djed Spence and Noni Madueke became far more influential, and sustained pressure began to mount on the DR Congo defence. However, they still trailed 1-0 at half-time, extending a worrying statistic: England had never won a World Cup match after trailing at the break, having previously drawn two and lost seven.
Tuchel’s substitutions proved decisive. Anthony Gordon entered the match in the 61st minute and immediately injected pace and creativity into England’s attack.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute. Gordon delivered the decisive pass and Harry Kane made no mistake, finishing clinically to level the scores and breathe life back into England’s World Cup hopes.
With extra time looming, England’s captain stepped up once again.
In the 86th minute, Gordon turned provider for a second time, finding Kane, who produced a superb finish to complete the turnaround. The goal was Kane’s 13th in FIFA World Cup history and his fifth of the 2026 tournament, further cementing his status as England’s talisman on the biggest stage.
The final whistle sparked huge relief among England supporters after their side escaped what would have been one of the tournament’s biggest shocks.
While England’s resilience and character deserve praise, the performance also highlighted areas that require significant improvement. Defensive lapses and a sluggish first-half display nearly proved costly, and stronger opponents are unlikely to be as forgiving.
England now face an enormous challenge in the Round of 16 against an in-form Mexico side that remains unbeaten in the tournament and has yet to concede a single goal. If the Three Lions are to end their 60-year wait for World Cup glory, they will need to produce a far more complete performance than the one that eventually carried them past a courageous DR Congo.
