England were pushed to the absolute limit by a fearless DR Congo side before captain Harry Kane produced a moment of magic to rescue the Three Lions and book their place in the Round of 16.

DR Congo came out with no intention of sitting deep or simply defending against one of the tournament favourites. The Leopards started with intensity, aggression and belief, taking the game to England from the opening whistle and they were rewarded inside seven minutes.

A brilliant switch of play from Mbemba caught England out, with the ball bouncing kindly into the path of the winger on the left. With time and space to work with, Cipenga unleashed a low strike that flew past Jordan Pickford at his near post. It was his first-ever international goal, and there could not have been a bigger stage to open his account.

The goal left England with a mountain to climb. Historically, the Three Lions have rarely recovered from such situations at the World Cup, their only previous comeback victory after conceding first came in the 1966 final against West Germany.

Half-time arrived in Atlanta with DR Congo deservedly leading 1-0, while England were left searching for answers. Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled to adjust to the forward-thinking approach of the Leopards, who continued to press and compete without fear.

England eventually began to find their rhythm after the half-hour mark. Konsa came close almost accidentally from a Declan Rice free-kick before Mpasi produced the first of several impressive saves to deny Jude Bellingham’s header.

The frustration continued to grow for the Three Lions as Wan-Bissaka made a crucial goal-line clearance to keep out Marcus Rashford’s effort. DR Congo nearly doubled their advantage just before the break when Wissa struck the post with a first-time effort, while England were left furious after Harry Kane went down following a collision with Mpasi as the goalkeeper rushed out. The referee waved away the appeals and even stopped a potential VAR review.

The second half saw DR Congo dig deep, defending their narrow lead with incredible discipline and throwing themselves in front of everything England threw at them. The Leopards were playing with the confidence of a side that had already made history, their 3-1 win over Uzbekistan was their first World Cup victory in 52 years and they looked determined to create another unforgettable moment.

England, however, kept pushing.

The breakthrough finally arrived through the influence of substitute Anthony Gordon. The winger delivered a perfectly weighted cross from the left, allowing Kane to peel away and head the ball beyond Mpasi into the bottom-left corner. The relief inside the England camp was clear as the captain brought his team level.

DR Congo continued to fight, but England’s quality eventually proved decisive.

After DR Congo threatened at one end, England broke forward, with Bellingham seeing his effort saved by Mpasi. The ball was worked back into the danger area, and Gordon once again found Kane on the edge of the box. The England captain made no mistake, smashing a superb strike high into the right corner with no chance for the goalkeeper.

It was Kane’s 13th World Cup goal and his fifth at this FIFA World Cup, further cementing his place among England’s greatest-ever tournament scorers.

Gordon’s impact off the bench was outstanding, as he registered his second assist of the match and helped Kane become the first England player to score twice in a World Cup knockout-stage match since Gary Lineker against Cameroon in 1990.

England survived a huge scare, and when the moment demanded a leader, their captain delivered. Kane’s two goals in 11 minutes completely changed the course of the game and sent the Three Lions into the Round of 16, where they will face co-hosts Mexico.

For DR Congo, it was heartbreak but also a performance to be proud of. The Leopards showed courage, resilience and belief against one of the tournament favourites, falling just short after pushing England to the brink.