England reached the World Cup quarter‑finals with a hard‑fought 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo, sealed by Harry Kane’s late heroics in Atlanta. The match ignited after seven minutes when Brian Cipenga collected Mbemba’s pass and drilled a precise strike into the bottom corner, stunning the English crowd. England responded by dominating possession, but found Lionel Mpasi in exceptional form as the Congo goalkeeper produced outstanding saves to deny Kane and Jude Bellingham.
DR Congo nearly doubled their lead when Yoane Wissa struck the post before half-time. England’s pressure intensified after the break, and Kane finally levelled in the 74th minute with a towering header. Congo made changes to regain control, but England continued to dictate the tempo. The decisive moment arrived in the 85th minute when Mpasi parried Bellingham’s drive and Kane pounced on the rebound to complete the turnaround. England then managed the closing stages professionally to secure their place in the last eight.