England Come From Behind to Beat DR Congo 2-1 as Harry Kane Breaks Pelé’s World Cup Record

England survived a major scare to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash on Wednesday, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice to send the Three Lions into the last 16 while ending the African nation’s historic World Cup journey.

DR Congo stunned England inside the opening seven minutes when Brian Cipenga finished confidently past Jordan Pickford, giving the underdogs a deserved early lead. The Congolese side continued to impress throughout the first half, creating several chances and coming close to extending their advantage as England struggled to find rhythm.

England dominated possession but found it difficult to break through a disciplined DR Congo defence. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced a series of outstanding saves to frustrate the Three Lions, while England also saw a strong penalty appeal waved away after a VAR review.

Manager Thomas Tuchel made key tactical changes in the second half, introducing fresh attacking options that transformed England’s performance. The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Kane rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Anthony Gordon, bringing England level at 1:1.

With extra time looming, Kane delivered once again. In the 86th minute, the England captain unleashed a powerful finish to complete the comeback, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory and sparking celebrations among England supporters. The result sends England through to the Round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico.

The victory also marked another historic milestone for Kane. His second goal took his World Cup tally to 13 goals, moving him past Brazilian legend Pelé on the tournament’s all-time scoring list. Earlier in the competition, Kane had already become England’s highest-ever World Cup goalscorer by surpassing Gary Lineker.

For DR Congo, the defeat brought an end to a memorable campaign. The Leopards had captured the imagination of football fans by reaching the knockout stage for the first time and producing several impressive performances against more established football nations. Despite the heartbreaking exit, their resilience and fearless football earned widespread praise throughout the tournament.

England, however, will now shift their focus to the next challenge as they continue their quest for a first World Cup title since 1966. With Kane in prolific form and continuing to rewrite football history, the Three Lions remain among the favourites to lift the trophy.