Sebastien Desabre’s remarkably brave DR Congo side caught England manager Thomas Tuchel’s team off-guard with a formation shift which preyed on some of their vulnerabilities.
DR Congo set up in a 4-4-2 shape rather than their usual 5-3-2, and for more than just defensive reasons. Their play on the ball was among the toughest tests for Tuchel since the German took charge at the start of last year.
Aiming to end a 60-year wait to win a major tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s men escaped humiliation and one of England’s worst-ever World Cup exits on Wednesday thanks to their talismanic captain after Brian Cipenga’s early goal gave DR Congo an early lead.
Spence was caught under Chancel Mbemba’s cross as the ball fell for Cipenga. The Almeria winger’s shot was low and hard, but Jordan Pickford should still have kept it out at his near post in the 7th minute.
Senegal had a bright start to the second period, England were beginning to run out of ideas until Tuchel unloaded his offensive weapons off the bench. Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze were sent on by Tuchel in search of an equaliser.
And it was new Barcelona-signing Gordon who provided the cross as Kane finally found a way past Mpasi with a downward header 15 minutes from time. Gordon then got another assist for the 86th-minute winner, but Kane did the hard work as he rifled a powerful drive into the roof of the net for his 84th international goal.
