Report, score and goals as the Three Lions smartly defend the hosts with 10 men
England booked their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after suffering an upset against hosts Mexico, winning a tough contest 3-2 in front of a hostile crowd at the Azteca Stadium.
Jude Bellingham scored twice in a torrid first half before Harry Kane’s second-half penalty proved the winner, as Thomas Tuchel’s side overcame a red card, two penalties and relentless pressure to secure a stunning victory.
England resisted Mexico’s early pressure
The atmosphere inside the stadium was tense from the opening whistle and Mexico fed off the energy of the home crowd in the first half.
Declan Rice was booked in the first minute after catching young midfielder Gilberto Mora with a high boot, immediately putting the England midfielder on the tightrope.
Mexico created the first clear when Roberto Alvarado unleashed a dangerous cross from the right, allowing Raul Jimenez to head the ball towards goal. Jordan Pickford reacted well, diving down the right to keep the ball out.
England settled a bit in the contest and began to find some excitement through Anthony Gordon down the left, but clear-cut chances remained limited in a tense opening hour.
Bellingham scores twice in two minutes
The game burst into life in the 36th minute.
After Mexico failed to capitalize on a promising attack, Pickford launched a quick counter with a sharp throw to Rice.
The midfielder released Bukayo Saka down the right and the Arsenal midfielder delivered an inviting cross that eluded Harry Kane before finding Bellingham unmarked at the far post. The Real Madrid star headed home to silence the packed stadium.
Less than two minutes later, England struck again.
Elliot Anderson won the field goal before Gordon fed Bellingham. The midfielder exchanged passes with Kane before getting to the box to finish from close range and complete a 90-second strike that left Mexico stunned.
Quinones sparks a Mexican revival
Mexico refused to fold and found their way back into the game before the break.
Alvarado’s dangerous free-kick created problems inside the penalty area for England and the loose ball fell perfectly to Julian Quinones, who quickly responded and headed into the roof of the net.
The goal changed the mood inside the stadium and Mexico almost equalized before the break. Pickford produced another superb save to deny Jimenez’s powerful header before Bellingham made a crucial final clearance from Cesar Montes minutes later.
Quannsah sees red as the drama heats up
England almost restored their two-goal lead shortly after the restart when Nico O’Reilly’s volley hit the post.
However, the momentum changed midway through the second half.
Initially escaping punishment for a challenge on Jesus Gallardo, Jarell Quansah was eventually given a straight red card following a VAR review. The referee ruled that the full-back’s follow-up had endangered his opponent, reducing England to 10 men with just over half an hour remaining.
Tuchel responded by sacrificing attacking options and introducing defensive reinforcements, but there was more drama to come.
Kane’s penalty followed by Mexico’s answer
Although England had a short man, they regained control of the game in the 58th minute.
Kane challenged before Anthony Gordon ran onto a loose ball and was brought down by goalkeeper Raul Rangel. The referee pointed straight to the spot and, after a long delay, Kane calmly converted to make it 3-1.
But the celebrations didn’t have time to settle down before disaster struck.
Mexico were awarded their own penalty less than 10 minutes later after VAR ordered the referee to review a challenge involving Kane and Brian Gutierrez. After another pitchside review, a spot-kick was awarded.
Jimenez stepped up and sent Pickford the wrong way to cut the deficit to 3-2 and set up a tense finish.
England held under siege
The final stages became a survival mission in England. Mexico launched wave after attack as the hosts looked for an equaliser. Gimenez, Alvarado and Gutierrez were all threatening, while Pickford dealt with a number of crosses in spectacular fashion.
Spence produced a superb sliding tackle to deny Gimenez, while Marc Guehi and Dan Burn repeatedly cleared dangerous deliveries into the box.
Eleven minutes of stop time increases the intensity, as well as the noise.
Mexico came agonizingly close in the final act when a loose ball came out from the six-yard box, but John Stones slipped and deflected it over before England finally cleared their lines.
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among the England players, who survived one of the toughest tests of their tournament to book a quarter-final against Norway.
