Oscar Okhifo
England made a remarkable comeback to prevent a surprising World Cup defeat on Wednesday when captain Harry Kane scored two goals within the last 15 minutes, leading to an exciting 2-1 win against DR Congo and advancing the Three Lions to the Round of 16.
In the seventh minute, DR Congo shocked the European powerhouses as Brian Cipenga concluded a quick offensive play following a defensive lapse from England, granting the outsiders an early lead and fueling expectations of one of the competition's most unexpected upsets.
Africans maintained order and structure for most of the game, troubling England through solid defensive play as goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made several remarkable stops to keep his team ahead.
England also faced significant calls for a first-half penalty that were denied when Kane seemed to be tackled by Mpasi within the area, but the video assistant referee (VAR) decided not to change the referee's ruling.
In the 75th minute, England's determination eventually paid off as substitute Anthony Gordon delivered a promising cross that Kane headed strongly, equalizing the score and injecting fresh energy into the match.
As the game appeared headed towards additional time, Kane delivered yet another outstanding performance in the 86th minute, finding room for himself and firing a powerful strike past the goalkeeper to finish England's recovery, causing wild joy among both the team members and fans.
The crucial two-goal performance increased Kane's World Cup score to 13 goals and his England record to 84, reinforcing his position as the nation's top-ever scorer and maintaining his strong chances of winning the tournament's Golden Boot.
Although they won, England's play revealed weaknesses in their defense.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo frequently posed a threat during the counterattacks and had the potential to increase their advantage before half-time, whereas England found it difficult for much of the game to overcome their well-organized and determined rivals.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel's strategic adjustments were crucial, as replacements Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka brought new vigor to the offense as the Three Lions launched their last-minute resurgence.
England will soon play against Mexico in the Round of 16, which is expected to be among the most eagerly awaited matches of the elimination phase.
Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel's team must show significant progress in both offensive and defensive areas if they hope to defeat a self-assured Mexican squad that has made an impression during the competition.
The game reignited discussions about the application of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), as ex-top-tier official Andy Davies claimed England was incorrectly not awarded a first-half penalty.
"I am certain this should have resulted in a penalty, and England must be feeling unlucky," Davies stated.
The goalkeeper was unable to retrieve the ball and ended up making contact with Kane. Such moments should be examined at actual pace, and the failure to do so has likely resulted in England losing a penalty.
Although England managed to escape a humiliating defeat, the thrilling recovery revealed multiple vulnerabilities that more formidable rivals are expected to take advantage of.
As the elimination stage has begun, Tuchel's team needs to swiftly strengthen its defense and provide more impressive showings if it wants to stay in the race for the FIFA World Cup title.
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