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Printable Page
07/05 23:28 CDT England hands Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio
Azteca, winning 3-2 to reach quarterfinals
England hands Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 to
reach quarterfinals
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
AP Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane carried England to the
World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming a raucous crowd, the elevation of Estadio
Azteca and a man disadvantage in the second half to beat Mexico in a 3-2
thriller on Sunday night.
Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart in the first half, and six minutes
after Jarell Quansah was sent off, Kane converted a penalty to restore
England's two-goal lead.
England moves on to face Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a
spot in the semifinals.
"It was a crazy game. We had to fight," Kane said, his voice hoarse. "I can't
really talk, but the occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way."
Bellingham stunned the crowd of 80,824 at a venue where Mexico was unbeaten in
10 World Cup matches, including three this year, when he scored on a header in
the 36th minute and again in the 38th on a pass from Kane.
Julin Quiones scored for El Tri in the 42nd minute, and the game appeared to
turn in Mexico's favor when Quansah was shown a red card in the 54th for a
dangerous foul on Jess Gallardo.
But England was awarded a penalty for a challenge by Mexico goalkeeper Ral
Rangel, and Kane converted for his sixth goal of this tournament and 14th of
his World Cup career, matching Gerd Mller of West Germany for fifth on the
scoring list. Kane sits one behind Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp and Erling
Haaland in the Golden Boot race.
Kane then committed a foul that made him the first player since at least 1966
to score and concede a penalty in a World Cup game. Ral Jimnez converted the
kick with a stutter-step approach to move El Tri within 3-2.
Mexico attacked relentlessly over the final 21 minutes, plus 11 minutes of
stoppage time, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and England's defenders held
steady.
"This is probably one of the biggest England wins in a while, probably the
biggest one I can remember as a fan or player," Bellingham said. "The best
night of my England career."
Midfielder Jordan Henderson was taken to a hospital after the match with a
wrist injury, coach Thomas Tuchel said. He was hurt when he tumbled over an
advertising board during the postgame celebration.
"It's quite a serious injury," Tuchel said.
Mexico has not reached the quarterfinals since hosting in 1986. Since then, it
has lost in the round of 16 eight times, failed to advance past the group stage
in 2022 and was disqualified from the 1990 tournament.
It was Mexico's third competitive loss at Azteca, which opened in 1966, after a
pair of 2-1 defeats in World Cup qualifiers, to Costa Rica in 2001 and to
Honduras in 2013.
The stadium sits 7,300 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level and England's travel
schedule gave it no opportunity to get used to the altitude. Mexico's
passionate fans blasted horns outside the England hotel to disrupt players'
sleep, and the start of the match was delayed an hour because of a thunderstorm.
No matter. England is on to the quarterfinals as it seeks its first title since
1966, and its outnumbered fans continued their tradition of serenading the
victorious Three Lions with Oasis' "Wonderwall."
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
