Jude Bellingham delivered a swift double, leading 10-man England to a dramatic 3-2 triumph over Mexico at Estadio Azteca, securing their spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Harry Kane added to the scoreline with a penalty, helping the Three Lions overcome both the challenge of Jarell Quansah’s red card and the daunting high-altitude conditions, amidst the passionate Mexican fans, as they aim for their first major tournament victory in six decades.
Throughout the tournament, England has leaned heavily on the talents of Bellingham and Kane; this dynamic pair has propelled them into a highly anticipated quarter-final clash against Erling Haaland’s Norway.
Bellingham’s quick-fire strikes, accomplished within just 98 seconds in the opening half, handed Mexico only their third defeat in 90 matches at the Azteca.
Despite goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez narrowing the gap, Mexico could not advance to the quarter-finals.
Victory also helped to erase some of England’s nightmarish memories at the Azteca in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona scored a double for Argentina, including the infamous “Hand of God” goal.
The match was delayed until 11am AEST after a thunderstorm and heavy rain lashed the Mexican capital for hours before the planned 10am kick-off time.
Despite the sodden conditions, over 80,000 fans crammed into the stadium to create a deafening noise.
England coach Thomas Tuchel was wary of a fast start from Mexico as his side adjusted to the altitude of 2,240m above sea level.
Mexico had flown out of the traps when they won a World Cup knockout game for the first time in 40 years against Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday.
This time England managed to keep Javier Aguirre’s side at bay, but did need a crucial intervention from Jordan Pickford to deny Jiménez opening the scoring with a diving header that was headed for the bottom corner.
Tuchel made three changes to the side that needed a heroic performance from Kane to prevent an embarrassing early exit to Congo DR.
Quansah was forced to deputise at right-back with Reece James not fit to start for a third consecutive game, opening up Tuchel to criticism over his decision not to select more specialist cover in that position.
Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka also started out wide, and both made telling contributions.
Saka’s cross picked out Bellingham to power in a header for the first goal Mexico had conceded in five World Cup games.
The hosts failed to compose themselves as within two minutes the Real Madrid midfielder had doubled England’s lead.
Kane’s ball across fell perfectly for Bellingham to power in his fourth goal of the tournament.
Yet what should have been a comfortable lead was nearly wiped out by half-time.
Julián Quiñones blasted in his fourth goal of the tournament to spark the Mexico rally after England failed to clear a free kick.
Jiménez drilled wide and saw another header saved by Pickford before Bellingham made a last-ditch intervention to deny César Montes a certain equaliser.
Nico O’Reilly nearly restored England’s two-goal cushion as his deflected shot cannoned off the post.
Quansah was shown a straight red card on 54 minutes after a VAR review for a mistimed lunge on Jesús Gallardo.
But just six minutes later the 10 men had added to their lead when Gordon was wiped out by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel and Kane emphatically dispatched the penalty.
The England captain’s sixth goal of the tournament puts him just one behind Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.
The game took another huge momentum swing when Kane was penalised for a foul inside his own box and Jimenez slotted home the penalty to set up a frantic final 20 minutes.
England, though, stood tall, defending at times frantically to resist the Mexican wave during 11 minutes of additional time and reach a third consecutive World Cup quarter-final.
Norway’s goal-scoring machine does his thing
Haaland scored two late goals to send Norway through to their first World Cup quarter-final with a stunning 2-1 win over Brazil, resulting in the five-time champions’ earliest exit since 1990.
Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland produced a sensational display and saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimarães before Haaland struck twice in the last 11 minutes to stun Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Neymar pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time with Brazil’s second spot-kick of the match.
Haaland’s brace took him level with Messi on seven goals for the tournament as Norway booked a showdown against either co-hosts Mexico or England in Miami on 11 July.
For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth straight tournament in which they have been knocked out by European opposition.
The last time Brazil failed to reach at least the quarter-finals came 36 years ago, when they lost 1-0 to arch-rivals Argentina in the Round of 16.
Gabriel Martinelli was rewarded for scoring the stoppage-time winner against Japan in the previous round, as the Arsenal winger replaced the injured Lucas Paquetá in the lone change to Brazil’s line-up.
Norway were boosted by the return of Julian Ryerson, the Borussia Dortmund defender fit again after missing the past two games with a thigh injury.
Patrick Berg thought he had given Norway the lead inside three minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
After a rocky start, Brazil won a penalty when Kristoffer Ajer clattered into Matheus Cunha in the box.
The Brazilians were left furious as referee Ismail Elfath initially waved away their appeals, but VAR intervened, and the decision was overturned.
Guimarães stepped up, but Nyland guessed correctly, diving low to his left to push away the Newcastle midfielder’s tame penalty.
Nyland again came to Norway’s rescue, getting a crucial touch to Martinelli’s low drive as it flashed across goal, denying Guimarães a simple tap-in.
When Martin Ødegaard lost possession on the edge of his own box, Nyland once more saved Norway as he stuck out a leg to thwart Vinícius Júnior.
Haaland had struggled to make a significant impact, but his strength created a glorious opening for Norway before half-time.
The striker caused problems for Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos in the Brazil defence before the ball broke kindly for Ødegaard, whose effort was well saved by Alisson Becker.
Norway coach Ståle Solbakken brought on Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup at the break for Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth, but it was the introduction of Endrick that almost changed the game immediately.
Vinícius slipped Endrick through on goal with a delightful outside-of-the-foot pass, only for the teenager to dink wide as Nyland came out to close him down.
Nyland continued to frustrate Brazil, producing a good save to claw away Rayan’s fierce strike before making another outstanding stop to deny Guimarães, although the offside flag went up.
The arrival of Neymar in the 67th minute drew huge roars from the largely pro-Brazil crowd.
It was Norway who eventually broke the deadlock though, and it came through an inevitable source.
Schjelderup whipped in a cross from the left and soared above Gabriel to power a header into the corner.
As Brazil desperately chased an equaliser, an incredible fingertip save from a backpedalling Nyland prevented Ajer from looping the ball into his own net.
Haaland gave Norway breathing space as he hammered low into the corner from the edge of the box in the 90th minute.
It proved vital when Neymar converted a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time, preceded by an unseemly spat with keeper Nyland, following an elbow on Casemiro.
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