Kane to the Rescue! England Stuns DR Congo with Late Comeback to Seal World Cup Last-16 Spot

The Three Lions captain delivered a dramatic masterclass under immense pressure, keeping England's World Cup dreams alive in the knockout stage.A Disaster Averted at the FIFA World Cup 2026England narrowly escaped what could have been one of the biggest upsets in modern football history. Thanks to a sensational late rescue act by captain Harry Kane, the Three Lions fought back from the brink of elimination to defeat a resilient DR Congo 2-1 in their high-stakes Round of 32 clash. The victory booked England's ticket to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where a blockbuster showdown against co-hosts Mexico awaits them at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Monday, July 6.DR Congo Dominates a Dreadful First-Half EnglandThe match started shockingly for the European giants, who looked completely out of sync during a disastrous opening 45 minutes. DR Congo took a fully deserved lead just seven minutes into the game when winger Brian Cipenga silenced the English fans. Capitalising on a brilliant assist from captain and star defender Chancel Mbemba, Cipenga expertly fired the ball past the English goalkeeper.England attempted to orchestrate an immediate response, but they were repeatedly denied by DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, who put on an absolute clinic between the posts for the majority of the match. The African nation nearly doubled its advantage right before the halftime whistle when Yoane Wissa broke through the defence, only for his shot to agonisingly rattle the woodwork. This crucial miss ultimately gave England a lifeline.The Kane Masterclass: Two Goals in Eleven MinutesThe second half saw a completely different level of intensity from England, led by their talismanic striker. The equaliser finally arrived in the 75th minute when Anthony Gordon delivered a precise cross, allowing Harry Kane to head the ball home powerfully.With momentum fully on their side, Kane produced a moment of absolute magic in the 86th minute to seal the game. Latching onto another sumptuous pass from Gordon, the Bayern Munich forward outmanoeuvred the Congolese defenders and blasted a ferocious shot past a helpless Mpasi. England successfully managed the final minutes of the game to defend their 2-1 lead and advance in the tournament.Golden Boot Race Heats Up as Kane Joins HaalandWith his clutch double against DR Congo, Harry Kane has officially extended his goal tally to 5 in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The England skipper has now climbed to the joint second-highest position on the tournament's top-scorer charts, sharing the spot with Norway's Erling Haaland. The race for the prestigious Golden Boot remains fiercely competitive, with Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé currently leading the pack with six goals each as the tournament enters its most critical phase.