Kane Strikes Twice to Spare England Blushes as DR Congo Giant-Killing Bid Falls Short

Mexico City, Mexico – July 1, 2026 – For 85 agonizing minutes, England stared into the abyss of their most humiliating World Cup defeat. But captain Harry Kane, as he has done so many times before, dragged his team back from the brink, scoring two late goals to overturn a spirited DR Congo side and secure a dramatic 2-1 victory in the Round of 32.
The underdogs from Central Africa were minutes away from scripting one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Brian Cipenga’s stunning early strike had given the Leopards a deserved lead, and they defended with relentless heart against a flat, disjointed England team that looked devoid of ideas.
But with the clock ticking down and the ghosts of past failures looming large, Kane rose to the occasion. First, he powered home a towering header from a Bukayo Saka cross in the 88th minute to level the scores. Then, deep into stoppage time, the England captain showed his predatory instinct, latching onto a loose ball and smashing it into the roof of the net from an impossibly tight angle to send the Three Lions through.