Kane’s Brace Powers England to 2-1 Comeback Win Over DR Congo, Sets Up Mexico Clash

Atlanta, July 2026 : Captain Harry Kane produced a match-winning performance with two second-half goals as England staged a dramatic comeback to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, booking their place in the last 16 against Mexico.

Score: England 2 (Harry Kane 75′, 86′) beat DR Congo 1 (Brian Cipenga 7′)

The victory marked England’s first World Cup knockout triumph after trailing at half-time since the 1986 edition, underlining the Three Lions’ resilience after they found themselves in danger of a shock elimination for much of the contest.

Brian Cipenga stunned the 1966 world champions by giving DR Congo an early lead in the seventh minute with his maiden international goal. England struggled to break down a disciplined Congolese defence for more than an hour before Kane rose to the occasion, scoring twice within 11 minutes to rescue his side and keep their World Cup campaign alive.

With Germany and the Netherlands already eliminated from the tournament, England looked set to join the list of heavyweight casualties as they entered the closing stages still trailing 1-0. Despite dominating possession and creating a series of chances, they repeatedly found DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi in inspired form.

Mpasi frustrated England with a string of outstanding saves, including a brilliant double stop early in the second half. He first denied Jude Bellingham with a sharp save at the near post before reacting quickly to keep out the rebound with assistance from defender Chancel Mbemba.

England continued to press relentlessly, but DR Congo’s disciplined defensive display appeared set to force one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. Marcus Rashford came close after breaking into the penalty area but could only find the side-netting when presented with an excellent opportunity.

England had also felt aggrieved in the opening half when Kane appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away appeals, leaving the Three Lions trailing at the interval despite controlling much of the possession.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute. Declan Rice initiated the move before substitute Anthony Gordon delivered a perfectly weighted cross from the left. Kane timed his run to perfection and powered a precise header beyond the helpless Mpasi, restoring parity and injecting fresh belief into the England camp.

With momentum now firmly on their side, England continued to push forward. Their persistence paid off again in the 86th minute when Gordon once more turned provider. Collecting the pass inside the penalty area, Kane drove forward before unleashing a thunderous strike into the roof of the net, leaving Mpasi with no chance and completing a memorable turnaround.

The second goal sparked jubilant celebrations among England supporters as Kane took his tally to 13 goals in FIFA World Cup finals, while also registering his fifth goal of the ongoing 2026 tournament.

DR Congo had impressed throughout the match with their fearless approach. Cipenga, who had earlier assisted Axel Tuanzebe’s decisive goal during the World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, once again proved decisive by opening the scoring after capitalising on space left by England’s defence.

The African side defended bravely and looked capable of holding on for a famous victory thanks to Mpasi’s outstanding goalkeeping and an organised backline. However, England’s sustained pressure eventually proved too much to withstand.

Manager Thomas Tuchel’s side displayed patience and character after a frustrating first half, refusing to panic despite falling behind early. The introductions from the bench, particularly Gordon, provided fresh attacking impetus and played a crucial role in changing the course of the match.

England will now travel to face Mexico in the Round of 16, buoyed by a hard-fought victory that showcased their fighting spirit. While DR Congo exit the tournament with heads held high after pushing one of football’s traditional powerhouses to the limit, England remain firmly in contention as they continue their quest for a second World Cup title.