Bellingham double sends 10-man England past Mexico
England beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice before Jarell Quansah’s red card.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
England reached the World Cup quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Sunday, surviving a second-half red card and late pressure from the hosts. AFP reported that Jude Bellingham scored twice in the first half and Harry Kane added a penalty as England set up a last-eight match against Norway.
The result gave Mexico only its third defeat in 90 matches at the Azteca, according to AFP. It also kept England’s bid for a first major tournament title in 60 years alive after a tense last-16 match played in difficult conditions.
Kickoff in Mexico City was pushed back by an hour after thunderstorms and heavy rain hit the capital before the scheduled start. AFP reported that more than 80,000 fans still packed the stadium, where England also had to cope with the city’s altitude of 2,240 metres.
Mexico had started quickly in its previous knockout win over Ecuador, but England held firm early this time. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a key save from Raul Jimenez, stopping a diving header that was heading toward the bottom corner.
England coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the side that faced DR Congo, AFP reported. Jarell Quansah filled in at right-back with Reece James not fit to start for a third straight game, while Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka came into the wide positions.
Saka helped create the breakthrough, sending in the cross that Bellingham headed in for the first goal Mexico had conceded in five World Cup matches. Less than two minutes later, Bellingham scored again after Kane’s pass across the area found him in position to finish.
AFP reported that the two goals came 98 seconds apart and gave Bellingham four goals for the tournament. The quick double left Mexico with a steep deficit, but the home side responded before halftime.
Julian Quinones pulled one back after England failed to deal with a free kick, scoring his fourth goal of the competition. Jimenez then went close twice, drilling one effort wide and forcing another save from Pickford, before Bellingham intervened to stop Cesar Montes from equalising.
England nearly restored a two-goal lead before the interval when Nico O’Reilly’s deflected shot hit the post. The match shifted again after halftime when Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute following a VAR review for a challenge on Jesus Gallardo.
Despite playing with 10 men, England extended its lead six minutes later. AFP reported that Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel brought down Gordon, and Kane converted the penalty for his sixth goal of the tournament.
That goal left Kane one behind Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race, according to AFP. The England captain’s strike proved decisive after Mexico received a penalty of its own when Kane was penalised for a foul inside the England area.
Jimenez scored from the spot to make it 3-2 and set up a tense final spell. England defended through heavy pressure and 11 minutes of stoppage time to reach a third consecutive World Cup quarterfinal.
AFP reported that England will face Haaland’s Norway in the next round. The win also softened some of England’s painful history at the Azteca, where Diego Maradona scored twice for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, including the “Hand of God” goal.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.