Playing a man down for most of the second half, England withstood a bombardment of Mexican crosses and shots at a hostile Azteca Stadium to keep its hopes alive for a second World Cup title.
Much of the match was non-stop and an end-to-end affair until England was forced to sub out most of its attacking players to pack its penalty box with defenders and try to ride out 36 minutes of constant pressure in regulation time plus 11 more minutes of stoppage time. Every English field player blocked a shot or cross at some point, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford faced 19 shots.
Attacking play was the initial game plan for both squads. Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez struck a diving header to the low-left corner, but Pickford was equal to it. England countered with a series of long balls to speedy left-winger Anthony Gordon, who consistently beat his markers deep in Mexico’s end.
Bellingham struck again 120 seconds later following a nice give-and-go play with Kane that allowed the 23-year-old to tap the ball in at close range past Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
“Have another shot and text your bosses that you’re not coming in tomorrow,” Bellingham told a FIFA reporter after the match, when asked to address England fans. “What we’ve done tonight is pretty spectacular.”
Mexico’s first goal came just before the end of the half, following a free kick to the left of England’s penalty box. A shot was blocked, but forward Julián Quiñones collected the loose ball at close range and sent it to the back of the net.
The tactics for both teams changed nine minutes into the second half. England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off after the bottom of his cleats struck the upper shin of a Mexican defender without touching the ball first.
Mexico hadn’t conceded a single goal after three matches in group play and the round of 32 win again Ecuador. Now, it was England’s turn to put its defense to the test.
England swapped Saka for substitute defender John Stones and started playing more long balls out of the back. A lob toward Mexico’s goal bounced off Kane and into the path of Gordon, who made a looping run toward the center before he was brought down, drawing a penalty kick.
Kane smashed the ball with his right foot into the lower left corner to make the score 3-1.
Kane then gave away a penalty nine minutes later when he attempted to block a high kick from substitute Brian Gutierrez but struck his opponent’s leg instead of the ball. Jimenez beat Pickford on the penalty kick with a stutter step before he fired the ball low into the left corner.
Jimenez had another chance in the final seconds of the game, attempting a shot within six yards of the goal line that was blocked by Stones and sent out of bounds.
Mexico Coach Javier Aguirre commended his opponent’s strong defensive performance and the fantastic, tireless effort from his players.
“You need to play the perfect match to beat England,” he said during the post-game press conference. “The third goal; that actually killed us.”
“They [Mexican players] left everything on the pitch, and they did everything they could.”
Mexico previously reached the quarterfinals twice as a host nation, in 1970 and 1986. This was its first World Cup match defeat at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the last match to be played in Mexico for this tournament.
England, which won its only World Cup title in 1966, continues to the round of 8 against Norway at Miami Stadium on July 11.
England Coach Thomas Tuchel said his players delivered a heroic performance with a heroic result.
“It didn’t feel like a round of 16 match,” he said. “It felt almost like we won a final or something.”
“We did it with mentality, pure heart, and overcame every obstacle thrown at us.”
England defender Jordan Henderson, who didn’t play in the game, sustained a wrist injury celebrating the win after the final whistle. Tuchel said Henderson was taken to the hospital for treatment and that the injury is serious.
