Captain Harry Kane delivered a masterclass in clutch finishing as England overcame a stubborn DR Congo side to progress to the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

The Three Lions made a sluggish start and were stunned in the seventh minute when Brian Cipenga capitalised on defensive hesitation to fire DR Congo into a shock lead. Despite dominating possession, England struggled to break down a well-organised Congolese defence, with Yoane Wissa coming close to doubling the advantage when he struck the post shortly before half-time. Kane had a strong penalty appeal waved away in added time, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s men trailing 0-1 at the interval.

England improved after the break, introducing fresh attacking impetus through substitutes Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka. The equaliser arrived in the 75th minute as Gordon swung in an inviting cross from the left; Kane rose unmarked to power a clinical header into the bottom corner. His movement and aerial timing were exemplary, breathing new life into England’s campaign.

Kane’s influence proved decisive once more four minutes from time. Receiving the ball on the right side of the box, the captain expertly turned his marker before dispatching a powerful right-footed strike into the top corner, assisted again by Gordon. The goal, his second of the match and fifth of the tournament, secured the win and extended his status as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.

While the performance was far from fluent, Kane’s leadership, positioning, and clinical edge were the defining factors in a match where England were forced to dig deep. DR Congo, in their first-ever knockout appearance, produced a disciplined and spirited display that belied their underdog status.

Harry Kane goes past Pele

With a brace against Congo, Kane now has 5 goals in this World Cup, taking his overall tally to 13. The England striker has gone past Brazilian legend Pele, who netted 12 goals in World Cups. The Englishman has equalled his tally with France’s Just Fontaine. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the chart with 19 goals, while he is followed by France’s Kylian Mbappe with 18 goals.