Atlanta: England captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as the Three Lions staged a remarkable comeback to defeat a spirited Congo side 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, securing a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.
Trailing 1-0 for 75 minutes and facing the prospect of a shock elimination, England relied on the experience and leadership of Kane to overturn the deficit and keep their World Cup campaign alive.
Tournament debutants Congo stunned England early when Bryan Sipenza opened the scoring. Collecting a diagonal pass from Chancel Bemba, Sipenza cut in from the left and fired a low shot beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, giving Congo a surprise 1-0 lead and sending their supporters into celebration.
The African side defended bravely and carried their advantage into halftime. The result marked a historic moment, as England had never previously won a World Cup match after trailing at halftime. In their previous nine World Cup matches when behind at the break, England had drawn only twice and lost seven times.
Congo came close to doubling their lead before England’s equalizer. Yoane Wissa found himself in a promising position after a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but his effort struck the post, allowing England a lifeline.
Recognizing the need for change, England manager Thomas Tuchel made a decisive double substitution in the 60th minute, introducing Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka in place of Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke.
The move paid immediate dividends. In the 75th minute, Gordon delivered an excellent cross into the penalty area, and Kane controlled the ball before smashing a powerful shot past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to level the score at 1-1. The goal was Kane’s 12th in World Cup competition.
With the match seemingly heading toward extra time, Kane produced another moment of brilliance. Four minutes from full time, the England captain outmaneuvered his marker inside the box and drilled an unstoppable shot into the net, scoring his second goal of the match and his 13th World Cup goal overall.
The late strike completed England’s comeback and secured a dramatic 2-1 victory.
Tuchel Praises Team’s Belief
England head coach Thomas Tuchel credited his players for remaining calm despite falling behind early.
“Our start to the match was disappointing. Congo increased our difficulties by scoring with their first meaningful attack. The positive thing was that we never lost belief. After the first cooling break, we began to gain control of the game. The substitutes brought fresh energy, and Harry Kane’s goals ultimately made the difference. We knew this would be a battle, and the players showed patience and resilience throughout,” Tuchel said.
Congo Leave with Pride Despite Defeat
Congo coach Sébastien Desabre expressed disappointment but praised his players for their performance against one of football’s traditional powers.
“We are disappointed because we genuinely believed we could win this match. The players performed brilliantly and pushed England all the way. In the end, one of the world’s best players, Harry Kane, punished the few opportunities we allowed. Despite the result, I am proud of the experience and growth our players have shown. We will continue learning and improving,” Desabre said.
Kane Calls for Further Improvement
Match-winner Harry Kane celebrated the victory but stressed that England must raise their level in the matches ahead.
“It feels fantastic to win a game like this. Congo are a very strong team and made things extremely difficult for us. Their goalkeeper made several outstanding saves. We improved as the game went on, but we know we still need to get better. At this stage of the World Cup, every victory requires tremendous effort, and tonight was no exception,” Kane said.
England now advance to the Round of 16 after surviving one of the biggest scares of the tournament, while Congo bow out with their reputation enhanced after a courageous display against one of football’s most experienced nations.
