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England survived one of the biggest scares of the FIFA World Cup after captain Harry Kane scored twice to inspire a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta, rescuing Thomas Tuchel's side from a stunning early elimination.
The match began in sensational fashion as DR Congo stunned England inside seven minutes. Brian Cipenga found himself completely unmarked at the far post, calmly controlling a cross before firing beyond Jordan Pickford to give the African nation a memorable early lead. His acrobatic celebration sparked jubilant scenes among Congolese supporters, while England's travelling fans were left stunned into near silence.
England dominated possession throughout much of the opening half but struggled to convert control into meaningful chances. Jude Bellingham came close with a powerful header that produced an outstanding save from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, while Marcus Rashford saw another effort dramatically cleared off the goal line.
DR Congo continued to threaten on the counterattack and almost doubled their advantage when Yoane Wissa struck the post shortly before halftime. England's frustration increased moments later when Kane appeared to be fouled inside the penalty area, but despite clear contact from Mpasi, the referee waved play on following a VAR review.
The Three Lions entered the second half trailing and under mounting pressure. Manager Thomas Tuchel introduced Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in an effort to inject fresh energy into the attack as England desperately searched for an equaliser.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 74th minute. Gordon delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area where Kane rose highest to power a header beyond Mpasi, igniting celebrations among England supporters and dramatically changing the atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
With momentum firmly on their side, England launched wave after wave of attacks. DR Congo defended bravely, but their resistance was eventually broken five minutes from time. Bellingham's intelligent run forced another save from Mpasi before Gordon reacted quickest to collect the rebound and square the ball for Kane, who calmly controlled before smashing home the decisive goal.
The final whistle brought enormous relief for England's players and supporters, who celebrated wildly after avoiding what would have been one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. The squad later joined fans in singing "Wonderwall," turning anxiety into celebration within the space of a dramatic second half.
Despite the defeat, DR Congo earned widespread praise for an outstanding performance that pushed one of football's traditional powers to the brink. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was among the tournament's standout performers, producing a series of exceptional saves that kept his side in contention until the closing minutes.
England now advances to the next stage of the competition with renewed belief, although the performance highlighted several defensive and attacking concerns that Tuchel will be eager to address before facing stronger opposition later in the tournament.
