By Dwayne Ferreira.
Azteca storm drama saw England beat Mexico 3-2, survive a red card and book a World Cup quarterfinal clash with Norway.
MEXICO CITY: England survived an Azteca storm in every sense on Sunday, beating Mexico 3-2 in a chaotic World Cup Round of 16 clash to reach the last eight.
The Three Lions had to overcome altitude, pressure, a thunderstorm delay, a red card and a furious late Mexican fightback. Jude Bellingham scored twice, Harry Kane added a penalty, and Jordan Pickford delivered another important performance as England held firm at the Azteca.
Mexico fought back through Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez, but Thomas Tuchel’s side defended bravely in the closing stages to protect a tense knockout victory.
The win sends England into a quarterfinal meeting with Norway, who stunned Brazil 2-1 earlier in the round. It also ends Mexico’s World Cup run on home soil after a night packed with emotion, noise and frustration.
Azteca Storm Sets The Stage
The drama began even before kickoff. A thunderstorm delayed the start and added another layer of tension to a match already shaped by Mexico City’s altitude, knockout pressure and a passionate home crowd.
Tuchel made several key selection calls. Jarell Quansah started at right back, while Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon came into the starting lineup.
England began with Jordan Pickford in goal, Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly in defence, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson in midfield, with Saka, Bellingham, Gordon and Kane in attack.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre kept faith with the same side that beat Ecuador in the previous round.
The hosts started strongly and controlled much of the early midfield battle. However, England struck first against the run of play in the 36th minute. Rice drove forward before finding Saka, whose delivery allowed Bellingham to head England into the lead.
Bellingham Double Silences Mexico
Just two minutes later, Bellingham scored again. Kane slid the ball across to the Real Madrid midfielder, who completed a rapid brace and stunned the Azteca crowd.
Mexico had not conceded a goal earlier in the tournament. Suddenly, England had found two in three minutes.
But Mexico responded before halftime through Quinones, who finished brilliantly after a free kick created chaos inside the England penalty area. That goal changed the mood inside the stadium and gave the hosts renewed belief.
The match turned again in the 54th minute when Quansah was sent off after a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on Jesus Gallardo. England were reduced to 10 men, and Mexico sensed their chance.
But instead of folding, England struck next. Gordon won a penalty after goalkeeper Raul Rangel brought him down, and Kane converted with authority in the 60th minute to make it 3-1.
England Hold Off Late Fightback
Mexico refused to go away. Jimenez scored from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Kane conceded a VAR-awarded penalty, cutting England’s lead to 3-2 and setting up a tense finish.
The final minutes turned into a test of nerve. Mexico sent crosses into the box, pushed bodies forward and kept England pinned back.
Pickford, Dan Burn and the England back line stood firm as the home crowd roared for an equaliser. Every clearance mattered. Every challenge carried weight.
When the final whistle came, England had survived one of the toughest tests of their tournament. It was not a perfect performance, but it was a resilient one.
England now move on to face Norway in the quarterfinals, where they must find a way to stop Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. After surviving the Azteca storm, the Three Lions remain alive. But their World Cup path is only getting harder.
Match Summary
Mexico 2-3 England
England: Jude Bellingham 36’, 38’, Harry Kane 60’ pen
Mexico: Julian Quinones 42’, Raul Jimenez 69’ pen
Red card: Jarell Quansah 54’
England advance: Quarterfinal vs Norway
