England's Double Strike: Kane Sends the Three Lions into the Quarterfinals

Chances and a Post Hit for the Underdogs

The English, who had previously celebrated a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the group stage of the tournament but then failed to do better than a 0-0 draw with Ghana and won their final group match against Panama 2-0, struggled for a long time against a compact Congolese defense. England needed about half an hour to register their first shot of any kind, and the Leopards, who had advanced to the knockout round as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage, held their lead with tremendous effort.

In the 28th minute, a free kick from Declan Rice, who had returned to the starting lineup after an injury layoff, clipped the knee of Ezri Konsa and went just wide of the goal. Shortly after, Jude Bellingham headed a cross from Rice, but Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, the 26-year-old keeper from French Ligue 1 side Le Havre, made a strong save. Bellingham and Kane had further headed chances in first-half stoppage time (45+2 and 45+6), which were also parried by the Congolese keeper.

Counterattacks and Controversial Penalty Scenes

DR Congo, who had qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years via the playoff matches against Jamaica – a 1-0 win in which Cipenga set up the decisive goal scored by Axel Tuanzebe – remained dangerous thereafter. In the 35th minute, ex-Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, playing at right back in this match, cleared a shot from Marcus Rashford off the line after a solo run by Noni Madueke. In the 42nd minute, Yoane Wissa, a striker for Newcastle United, headed against the post from about three meters out. Shortly after, Kane demanded a penalty after contact with Mpasi in the box, which Makhadmeh did not award – neither in real time nor after video review.

The second half began with English chances: In the 51st and 52nd minutes, Rashford first struck the outside of the net, then Bellingham headed just wide again. In the 53rd minute, Mpasi turned a deflected effort from Bellingham around the near post. Tuchel, who had made three changes to the starting lineup compared to the Panama match – bringing back Rice, Djed Spence, and Madueke among others – introduced Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in the 60th minute for Madueke and Rashford, with Eberechi Eze also coming on in the 70th minute. Gordon in particular would prove to be the decisive spark.

Gordon as the Provider for Kane's Brace

In the 75th minute, substitute Gordon delivered a cross from the wing, and Kane, who had repeatedly been sought out with crosses and passes in the box, headed the ball into the far corner for the 1-1 equalizer. It was the captain's fifth goal of the tournament and his eleventh World Cup goal overall, making him the sole English record goalscorer at World Cups. ORF expert Herbert Prohaska analyzed at halftime: "Die Engländer hätten sich längst den Ausgleich verdient, doch ein großartiger Tormann lässt sie verzweifeln."

The decisive moment came in the 86th minute: Once again the ball came from Gordon, Kane received it with his back to goal, turned, and finished precisely with his right foot into the upper near corner. It was his 13th World Cup goal overall and his fifth of this tournament in North America. For the Congolese side, whose coach Sébastien Desabre had surprisingly called Cipenga into the national squad just under a year ago, the defeat – despite the 1-0 lead over long stretches – was nevertheless no failure: "England im WM-Achtelfinale nach engem 2:1-Sieg über Kongo" and "Am Ende war Kapitän Kane einmal mehr der Matchwinner."

Reactions from Shearer, Klopp, and Prohaska

The match also featured controversial scenes: VAR reviewed a total of three possible penalties during the game – against Madueke, against Tuanzebe's teammate, and after Kane's contact with Mpasi – and in each case backed the referee's decision not to award a penalty. "Für mich ist das ein Elfmeter," said former England striker Alan Shearer about the incident involving Kane. Jürgen Klopp, who analyzed the match as a TV expert for MagentaTV, said: "Kontakt ist auf jeden Fall da, das steht völlig außer Frage. Der Schiri hat angezeigt, er wäre gesprungen, das kann ich auch aus der Schiedsrichterperspektive nachvollziehen." Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, is part of the broadcaster's team of experts.

England now faces co-host Mexico in the round of the last eight in the early hours of Monday morning (02:00 CET) at Mexico City Stadium; Mexico has won all four of its World Cup matches so far and has yet to concede a goal. "In der Nacht auf Sonntag (2 Uhr MESZ) kommt es in Mexiko City zum Duell zwischen den „Three Lions" und dem bisher überragenden Co-Gastgeber Mexiko," the program note reads. An ORF poll had beforehand predicted an English victory with 82 percent of users.

Outlook: Quarterfinal Against Mexico

England has qualified for the quarterfinals with the victory – in a tournament in which the German team and the Netherlands have already been eliminated in earlier rounds. The Three Lions are thus playing among the last eight teams at a World Cup for the first time in a long while. For Kane, whose contract with FC Bayern Munich runs until June 30, 2027, and whose market value is estimated at 60 million euros, it was another milestone in a remarkable tournament performance.