England reached the World Cup quarter-finals in the most dramatic way possible, holding on for a 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico at a raucous Estadio Azteca — a game that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s finest, and one England somehow won despite playing the entire second half a man light.
The Three Lions were second-best for long stretches of the first half, with Mexico dominating possession (63%) and creating the better chances through Raul Jimenez. Then, against the run of play, Jude Bellingham struck twice in 98 stunning seconds — heading home from a Bukayo Saka cross before doubling the lead with Harry Kane’s assist. It was the first World Cup brace scored in Mexico City since Diego Maradona.
Mexico responded immediately. Julian Quinones halved the deficit with a thunderous volley just before the break, setting up a grandstand finish to a first half that had swung violently in both directions.
The chaos deepened early in the second half when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card, following a VAR review, for a reckless challenge on Jesus Gallardo. Down to ten men with over 40 minutes still to play against a rampant home crowd, England somehow found a third. Anthony Gordon won a penalty after being brought down by Raul Rangel, and Harry Kane converted coolly to make it 3-1. Mexico weren’t finished — Kane himself then conceded a penalty at the other end, and Raul Jimenez dispatched it to make it 3-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
What followed was a genuine backs-to-the-wall rearguard action. Mexico laid siege to England’s goal, peppering the box with crosses and finishing with 20 shots and 37 touches in the England box, but Jordan Pickford, Dan Burn and a defence playing on fumes refused to break. England’s 33.2% possession was their lowest in any World Cup match since 1966 — and it barely mattered.
This was Mexico’s first defeat at the Azteca in a competitive match since 2013, and just the third loss the national team has ever suffered at their own fortress. For England, it’s a first World Cup quarter-final appearance secured the hard way, and a statement that Thomas Tuchel’s side can win ugly as well as well. Erling Haaland’s Norway await in Miami on Saturday — a very different kind of test after this one.
