Ten-man England hangs on to beat Mexico in last-16 thriller

MEXICO CITY — Ten-man England weathered a Mexican storm at the Azteca Stadium to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for a third straight time with a rip-roaring 3-2 victory on Sunday, courtesy of a Jude Bellingham double, a Harry Kane spot kick and a courageous rear-guard effort.

"It's the best night of my England career. Just unbelievable. I can't put it into words right now," said Bellingham. "It's tough to kind of gather everything together, the goals, the penalty against, the penalty for, the red card. It was a chaotic game, but credit to Mexico, they were a different class... but this team showed character tonight and I'm proud.

"Big pressure moments in years gone by, watching as a fan, as a kid, England probably would have crumbled, but we stuck together until the last second," he added.

"The players who came on, the players that started, running themselves into the ground and giving everything. That is what this team is about."

Thomas Tuchel's side made it hard for itself against the tournament co-host, but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at their iconic home stadium to set up a last-eight clash with Norway, which shocked Brazil 2-1 earlier on Sunday.

Mexico, who beat Ecuador 2-0 in the last 32 for its first knockout-stage win in 40 years, had only lost two competitive games at the Azteca in 89 matches since 1966, but England made it three with a performance of attacking verve and defensive grit.

Kane, hoarse after celebrating with his teammates and England's supporters, said: "It was a crazy game. We had to fight and we had to find something.

"I've just been singing, I can't really talk. The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way."

Bellingham scored twice for England in the space of 98 seconds in the first half.

Kane then scored from the penalty spot on the hour-mark, before giving one away at the other end shortly afterward, after a VAR check confirmed that, in trying to clear the ball, Kane had kicked the ankle of Mexico's Brian Gutierrez instead.

"I thought I got to the ball first, it was one of those days," Kane said."The ref gave a lot against us. In the end it didn't matter, so I'm happy."

After the game was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, Mexico attacked from the start, backed by its fanatical support who raised the decibel level higher than ever, but England held firm and managed to take the sting out of the game.

Pickford saves

Mexico's only notable early chance came after 15 minutes when Raul Jimenez's diving header was brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford after a pinpoint cross from Roberto Alvarado.

Pickford, who was to pull off several key saves, was making his 17th World Cup appearance to equal fellow keeper Peter Shilton as the all-time record-holder for England's men's team.

Player of the match Bellingham put England ahead with a superb diving header from Bukayo Saka's cross just past the half-hour mark and made it 2-0 within two minutes after another break down the right with skipper Kane providing the assist.

The Mexican crowd responded with chants of "yes we can", and the Mexico players responded by showing that, yes, they could.

Live-wire winger Julian Quinones volleyed home during a scramble inside the box from a freekick to get the host back right back into the match.

Soon after the halftime break, England went close to extending its lead when Nico O'Reilly hit the post, but the Three Lions were soon to be reduced to 10 men, when defender Jarell Quansah became only the fourth England player to be sent off at a World Cup for his rash, studs-up sliding challenge on Jesus Gallardo.

England kept its cool, though, and when Anthony Gordon ran through on goal he was fouled by keeper Raul Rangel, giving Kane his chance to make it three from the spot.

No breathing space

With just over 20 minutes to go England had its backs to the wall and had to dig deep to keep the Mexicans at bay.

Despite giving up most of the possession, it hung on for a famous victory in the last match of this World Cup to take place Mexico, and possibly the last to ever grace the iconic Azteca Stadium.

It was England's first visit to the Azteca since it lost to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, where Diego Maradona scored his infamous "Hand of God" goal against a hapless Shilton.

"We needed everything. It was super difficult, and always, in the moments when we thought we caught the momentum, we had setbacks, but that's a proper mentality. Well done," said Tuchel.

"When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more."

Mexico had not lost a competitive game at home since 2013, but had to say farewell to a tournament it has graced with passion on the pitch, in the stands and across the country. Its fans sang their hearts out until the very end.

"You can't make mistakes, because they will punish you," outgoing Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. "We made a couple of errors there, and it saddens me for the people, but my players can be at peace, because they did everything they could against a great team."

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