England beats Mexico 3-2 at Azteca to reach World Cup quarterfinals
England advanced to the quarter-finals following a 3-2 victory over Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Despite Jarell Quansah's red card, England held on to set up a match against Norway.
England’s dramatic 3‑2 comeback at Estadio Azteca not only knocked the hosts out of the tournament but also gave the Three Lions a lifeline in a knockout round that had seemed to tilt in Mexico’s favour. The win propels England into a quarter‑final clash with Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, while El Tri’s dream of a first quarter‑final since 1986 ends in disappointment.
From the opening whistle, a crowd of 80,824 amplified every heartbeat. Jude Bellingham’s twin strikes, timed just 98 seconds apart, put England 2‑0 up before Mexico could answer. A red card for defender Jarell Quansah in the second half forced England onto ten men, yet Harry Kane’s penalty‑kick conversion restored a two‑goal cushion. Mexico pulled one back through Raúl Jiménez, leaving a nail‑biting finale that ended after 103 minutes of play.
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Key moments at the Azteca
- 36’ – Bellingham (header): The first of two rapid goals, a header off a Saka cross, gave England the lead.
- 38’ – Bellingham (second): Two minutes later Bellingham doubled the lead on a Kane pass, making it 2‑0.
- 42’ – Quiñones (goal): Mexico’s Julián Quiñones reduced the deficit, sparking hopes of a comeback.
- 54’ – Quansah red card: A dangerous foul on Jesús Gallardo saw the defender sent off, leaving England with ten men for the rest of the match.
- 66’ – Kane (penalty): After Raúl Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon, Kane calmly slotted the spot‑kick to make it 3‑1.
- 69’ – Jiménez (penalty): Kane’s subsequent foul earned Mexico a penalty, which Raúl Jiménez converted, tightening the score to 3‑2.
- 90+11’ – Final whistle: England held on despite a relentless Mexican onslaught, securing place in the quarter‑finals.
These moments are corroborated across several outlets. Klcc highlighted Bellingham’s “98‑second” brace, while ABC News noted the penalty sequence that saw Kane both score and concede – a rarity since at least 1966.
England’s manager Thomas Tuchel made a series of tactical tweaks after the red card, inserting John Stones and later Dan Burn, effectively shifting the back line. The adaptation, described in The New York Times, bought the team defensive solidity that allowed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to make “one of the best nights of his entire career” with multiple crucial saves.
"To dream and then fall like this hurts deeply, but the players should leave with their heads held high," coach Javier Aguirre said.
Javier Aguirre, Mexico coach, via KLCC
Aguirre, who is set to step down after his third stint, will hand the reins to former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, his assistant during the tournament. The transition was noted by both Tsn and KLCC.
For England, the victory also cemented Harry Kane’s place in World Cup history. By netting his sixth tournament goal, Kane tied Gerd Müller for fifth on the all‑time World Cup scoring list, as reported by ABC News. The England Football match centre recorded that Kane’s penalty also made him the first player since at least 1966 to score and concede a penalty in the same World Cup match.
Mexico’s own perspective was bitter yet hopeful. Fan Ramiro Caballero, quoted by both Klcc and TSN, lamented the missed chance, while “Shiv B” on the NYTimes live‑blog praised England’s resilience. The public sentiment reflects a nation that has “had everything to win” but fell short after “five shots on goal and scored three” from England, according to Caballero.
Meanwhile, Mexico will regroup under Marquez, hoping to end their “fifth‑game curse” – a reference to their inability to progress beyond the round of 16 since 1986. The federation’s post‑match briefing, covered by KLCC, emphasized the “unforgettable” nature of the five matches Aguirre oversaw and expressed confidence in Marquez’s “valuable” coaching pedigree.
