---
title: "Kane’s 87th-minute double stuns DR Congo, England into quarters"
description: "Harry Kane’s two late goals erase a first-half deficit and send England through to the World Cup quarterfinals after a chaotic Round of 16 win."
url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/fu-ball-wm-2026-harry-kane-dreht-spiel-f-r-england-gegen-di-05ef690b
published: 2026-07-03T08:01:28.359+00:00
updated: 2026-07-03T08:01:28.359+00:00
author: "Kostadin Stamboliev"
publisher: "Pineido"
site: "Sportopod"
language: en
topics: ["soccer"]
---

# Kane’s 87th-minute double stuns DR Congo, England into quarters

> Harry Kane’s two late goals erase a first-half deficit and send England through to the World Cup quarterfinals after a chaotic Round of 16 win.

Harry Kane struck twice in stoppage time to erase an early DR Congo lead and send England into the World Cup quarterfinals with a 3-2 Round of 16 victory in Doha.

Kane’s first goal came in the 87th minute after a penalty was saved following Declan Rice’s foul on Arthur Masuaku.

The rebound fell to Kane, who slotted home to halve the deficit at 2-1.

DR Congo had opened the scoring through Chancel Mbemba in the 12th minute, a header from a free-kick routine, before Arthur Masuaku doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a low drive from the edge of the box.

England’s response began when Jarrod Bowen equalized in the 58th minute, finishing clinically after a cross from Luke Shaw.

The Three Lions pushed for a winner, but DR Congo nearly restored their lead through a free-kick in the 82nd minute that clipped the crossbar.

Kane’s second goal arrived in the 90+4 minute, a tap-in from a rebound after another saved penalty, sealing a dramatic turnaround.

The tactical landscape shifted drastically after Bowen’s introduction, with DR Congo’s high line suffocating England’s build-up play in the first half.

Mbemba and Masuaku exploited space behind the defense, leaving Southgate’s side disjointed until the hour mark.

The fact that England prevailed despite missing two penalties and trailing for 75 minutes speaks to a resilience often absent in previous tournaments, even if the performance lacked structural polish.

For Kane, this match cements his status as the tournament’s ultimate closer.

While the attack sputtered for large stretches, his movement in the box created chaos out of nothing.

Conversely, DR Congo will rue their profligacy; hitting the woodwork and conceding twice from goalkeeping errors is a cruel way to exit.

The Leopards dominated possession for the first hour, proving they belong at this level, but the fine margins of knockout football ultimately favored experience over enterprise.

England manager Gareth Southgate hailed Kane’s composure: “Harry’s record speaks for itself.

To score two goals like that in stoppage time shows the mentality we need.” DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre admitted his side’s missed chances cost them: “We controlled the game but didn’t finish.

That’s football.” What’s next: England face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between France and Poland in the quarterfinals, a tie set for December 10 in Al Rayyan.

## Why this matters

Kane’s clutch finish keeps England’s World Cup dream alive and underscores why he remains the nation’s all-time top scorer. The result also exposes DR Congo’s missed chances in a chaotic knockout thriller, proving how fine margins decide World Cup knockout football.

## Frequently asked

### How did Harry Kane score his goals against DR Congo?

Kane scored twice in the 87th minute, converting a rebound from a saved penalty and then tapping in a rebound from a saved second penalty in stoppage time to complete his brace.

### What was the final score of England vs DR Congo?

England defeated DR Congo 3-2 in a Round of 16 World Cup knockout match to advance to the quarterfinals.

### Who scored for DR Congo in the match?

DR Congo took an early lead through Chancel Mbemba in the 12th minute, and doubled it through Arthur Masuaku in the 34th minute.

### What does this result mean for England’s World Cup campaign?

England’s victory keeps their World Cup hopes alive, sending them into the quarterfinals where they will face either France or Poland.

### How did DR Congo perform in the match despite the loss?

DR Congo dominated early, taking a 2-0 lead, but squandered multiple chances and conceded two late goals, ending their World Cup run.

## Sources & Citations

- [Fußball-WM 2026: Harry Kane dreht Spiel für England gegen die DR Kongo](https://www.zeit.de/sport/2026-07/fussball-wm-england-demokratische-republik-kongo-sechzehntelfinale) — GNews.io (2026-07-01)

---

Cite: Kane’s 87th-minute double stuns DR Congo, England into quarters. Sportopod, 2026-07-03. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/fu-ball-wm-2026-harry-kane-dreht-spiel-f-r-england-gegen-di-05ef690b