Kane’s late brace sends England into last 16 as DR Congo bow out
The Mt Kenya Times 
Captain’s second-half double completes comeback in Atlanta as Leopards’ historic run ends
By Norman Mwale
Harry Kane’s second-half double rescued England as the Three Lions came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32 at Atlanta Stadium yesterday, ending the Leopards’ first-ever World Cup knockout campaign.
DR Congo stunned England inside seven minutes. Brian Cipenga was left unmarked on the right of the box and drilled a low, right-footed strike past Jordan Pickford at his near post to give the Leopards a shock 1-0 lead — the first time England had trailed at this tournament.
England dominated possession but found Lionel Mpasi in inspired form. The Congolese goalkeeper denied Jude Bellingham twice, once with a low save to his right and again batting away a deflected header, before beating out a close-range volley from Kane at the back post. At the other end, Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared a goalbound Marcus Rashford effort off the line, and Yoane Wissa struck the post from inside the six-yard box in the closing stages of the first half to remind England the tie was far from settled.
Thomas Tuchel’s side pressed after the restart and got their reward in the 75th minute, when Anthony Gordon swung a cross to the back post and Kane rose above his marker to head home and level the score. The captain then won it in the 86th minute, latching onto another Gordon delivery before rifling home to complete the turnaround — his 12th and 13th World Cup goals, moving him one clear of Pelé on the all-time list.
Kane reflected on a hard-fought win: “It feels amazing, to be honest — what a crazy game,” he said, adding that the team had to stay patient against a well-organised opponent before their moments arrived. Tuchel echoed that sentiment, praising his side’s mentality: “The reaction and belief is one of a kind. We found a way to win. Well deserved.”
DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre has spoken throughout the tournament about the scale of his side’s achievement in reaching the knockout stage for the first time since returning to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, and Wednesday’s display — matching England for long spells and rattling the crossbar through Wissa — will only add to that pride. Cipenga’s early strike, meanwhile, will be remembered as one of the standout individual moments of the Leopards’ campaign.
England now advance to face co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday, while DR Congo depart the tournament as the highest-ranked third-placed team to reach the knockout stage — and the first Congolese side to do so since the country competed as Zaire in 1974.
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