England narrowly avoided one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, rallying for a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday in Atlanta. Captain Harry Kane scored twice in the second half to erase a shocking early deficit and keep England’s tournament hopes alive.
The Congolese stunned the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the seventh minute when Brian Cipenga found himself unmarked at the far post, collected a cross, and fired past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The goal sent the small but passionate group of Congolese fans into a frenzy, while the massive English contingent fell silent.
England controlled possession for long stretches but struggled to create clear chances in the first half. The Three Lions appeared rattled by the early setback, and a hydration break was met with boos from frustrated fans. Jude Bellingham nearly equalized with a close-range header that forced a spectacular save from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, and Marcus Rashford had a shot cleared off the line.
Controversy struck just before halftime when Kane was brought down in the box by Mpasi, but referee Adham Mohammad declined to award a penalty despite clear contact. The decision stood after a VAR review, leaving Kane and England incensed. Kane then volleyed a corner directly at Mpasi from close range as the teams went to the break with DR Congo holding a 1-0 advantage.
Manager Thomas Tuchel made attacking substitutions at halftime, bringing on Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon for Noni Madueke and Rashford. The pressure intensified, but the breakthrough didn’t come until the 74th minute when Kane rose highest to head home a Gordon cross, leveling the score and igniting the England supporters.
The equalizer unleashed a wave of attacks, and England finally found the winner in the 85th minute. Bellingham’s run unlocked the Congo defense, forcing a save from Mpasi. Gordon collected the rebound and slipped a pass to Kane at the top of the penalty area, where he took two touches and smashed the ball into the net.
The full-time whistle brought a roar of relief from English fans and a rendition of “It’s Coming Home.” England players lined up for the traditional postgame singing of “Wonderwall” by Oasis, serenaded by supporters who had been silent with anxiety just 30 minutes earlier.
Despite the defeat, Mpasi earned praise from England players for one of the standout goalkeeping performances of the tournament. DR Congo’s brave effort fell just short of what would have been a historic result, but they left the field with their heads held high after pushing one of the tournament favorites to the limit.
