World Cup Round of 32
England 2 - 1 FT Congo DR
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
B. Cipenga (C. Mbemba) 7'
19' J. Bellingham
N. Sadiki 28'
HT
61' ↓ M. Rashford ↑A. Gordon
61' ↓ N. Madueke ↑B. Saka
↓ N. Mbuku ↑M. Elia 64'
70' ↓ D. Spence ↑E. Eze
75' H. Kane (A. Gordon)
↓ N. Mukau ↑E. Kayembe 76'
↓ B. Cipenga ↑T. Bongonda 76'
86' H. Kane (A. Gordon)
↓ A. Masuaku ↑J. Kayembe 89'
↓ S. Moutoussamy ↑F. Mayele 89'
90'+1 ↓ D. Rice ↑J. Stones
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
England
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Djed Spence
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Ezri Konsa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marc Guéhi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nico O'Reilly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Elliot Anderson 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
72
Passes
13
Duels
Declan Rice
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noni Madueke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Jude Bellingham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcus Rashford 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
Harry Kane 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.3
Rating
BENCH
James Trafford 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Dean Henderson
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Trevoh Chalobah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
John Stones
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dan Burn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Reece James
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jarell Quansah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eberechi Eze
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jordan Henderson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Morgan Rogers
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kobbie Mainoo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Anthony Gordon 
SUPER SUB
2
Assists
2
Assists
34
Minutes
7.2
Rating
Bukayo Saka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ollie Watkins
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ivan Toney
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Congo DR
Goalkeepers
Lionel Mpasi Nzau
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
Chancel Mbemba 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Axel Tuanzebe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arthur Masuaku 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
26%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
Midfielders
Ngal'ayel Mukau
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Samuel Moutoussamy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noah Sadiki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Nathanaël Mbuku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Yoane Wissa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brian Cipenga 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Matthieu Epolo
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Timothy Fayulu
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Dylan Batubinsika
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gedeon Kalulu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joris Kayembe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Steve Kapuadi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Théo Bongonda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edo Kayembe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gaël Kakuta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Charles Pickel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aaron Tshibola
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Meschak Elia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fiston Mayele
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cédric Bakambu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Simon Banza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kane Rescues England from Knockout Brink
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 66/100. A dramatic late turnaround kept England's World Cup dreams alive when elimination seemed a genuine certainty.
Early Shock in Atlanta
The Stakes could not have been higher in this Round of 32 clash, but England found themselves staring into the abyss almost immediately at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Congo DR struck first, silencing the crowd in the 7th minute when B. Cipenga fired home following a sharp pass from C. Mbemba. Forced to chase the game, the Three Lions dominated possession, holding 60% of the ball and camping in the attacking half. Despite controlling the tempo, they struggled to carve out the decisive final pass. Noni Madueke and Elliot Anderson worked tirelessly in midfield to find a breakthrough against a resolute defensive block, but the underdogs held firm.
The Gordon Masterclass
The Balance of the tie shifted dramatically with a crucial tactical pivot just after the hour mark. Needing an offensive spark, England unleashed A. Gordon in the 61st minute, and the substitute completely dismantled the opposition's defensive shape. The winger’s direct running stretched the pitch, finally unlocking a stubborn backline. In the 75th minute, Gordon provided a pristine cutback for H. Kane, who made no mistake in leveling the scoreline. The equalizer injected massive Intensity into the contest, transforming an anxious crawl into a relentless siege as the momentum entirely swapped sides.
Survival and Progression
Smelling blood, England refused to settle for extra time. With just four minutes remaining in normal time, the devastating Gordon-Kane connection struck again. Gordon delivered his second assist of the evening to set up Kane’s 86th-minute winner, completing a heroic brace that buried Congo DR's hopes of a monumental upset. The 2-1 victory ensures England advance to the Round of 16, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic early flight home. While the underlying metrics highlight their 16 total shots and a heavy 2.04 expected goals advantage, it was ultimately raw striking instinct that dragged them across the line.
Key Questions
How dramatic was the late winner by Harry Kane?
Extremely dramatic. Striking in the 86th minute to break a tense 1-1 deadlock, Kane saved England from the exhaustion and jeopardy of looming extra time.
How did England complete the comeback from behind?
Trailing 1-0 since the 7th minute, England utilized a 61st-minute substitution to introduce A. Gordon, who provided two brilliant assists for Kane to flip the tie.
How did substitute Harry Kane change the game?
While Harry Kane actually started the match, it was substitute Anthony Gordon who truly changed the game by assisting both of Kane's crucial second-half goals.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Do or Die in the Round of 32
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 37/100. England's star power should overwhelm Congo DR, but knockout football forgives no mistakes.
The Setup
England march into the Round of 32 unbeaten. A solid Form rating confirms they are hitting their stride at exactly the right time. Despite a moderate Stakes rating for this early tournament phase, the reality is stark: win or go home. Congo DR escaped their group and have absolutely nothing to lose. The disparity in Stars is obvious, with talent stacked across the pitch for the Three Lions. However, a modest Balance rating suggests the underdogs might find moments on the counter-attack if the favorites overcommit.
Key Battle
This tie hinges on pure firepower in the penalty area. Harry Kane anchors the English attack, hunting for space and demanding attention from multiple defenders. He faces a proxy shootout against Yoane Wissa, who carries the attacking hopes of the African nation. Wissa needs just half a chance to flip this match completely upside down.
Our Prediction
The English midfield will dominate possession from the opening whistle. Congo DR will sit deep, stay compact, and try to absorb the relentless pressure. Expect a professional 2-0 victory for England, with their attacking depth off the bench proving entirely too much in the second half.