England 2-1 Congo DR: Kane Brace Sends Three Lions Through

Congo DR led England inside seven minutes. It took Harry Kane less than 15 more to make sure that lead didn't last the afternoon.

England beat Congo DR 2-1 in the Round of 32 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, with Kane scoring twice to send the Three Lions through to the Round of 16.

An Early Shock for England

Brian Cipenga gave Congo DR a seventh-minute lead, finishing from the left side of the box after being set up by Chancel Mbemba. It was an early jolt for an England side expected to control the match from the outset.

Congo DR held that lead for well over an hour, frustrating England's attack and forcing Jude Bellingham into a first-half yellow card for a foul as tensions rose.

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Kane Answers Twice

Kane leveled the match in the 75th minute, heading home from the center of the box off an Anthony Gordon cross. He completed the turnaround 11 minutes later, finishing right-footed from the right side of the box, again assisted by Gordon.

The two Kane goals, both created by the same player, underlined how central Gordon's delivery from wide areas was to England's second-half improvement.

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A Tense Finish

Congo DR picked up a second-half yellow card of their own, shown to Noah Sadiki in the 28th minute, as the match remained physical throughout. Despite pushing for an equalizer late on, Congo DR couldn't find a way past an England defense that tightened once the lead was secured.

England held on through to full time, converting a difficult early scoreline into a knockout-round win built almost entirely around one forward's finishing.

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What Comes Next

England advances to the Round of 16, continuing their tournament with a result that will likely be remembered more for the deficit they overcame than the manner of the win itself. Congo DR's World Cup run ends in the Round of 32 after taking one of the tournament's bigger nations to within 15 minutes of an upset.

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