Mexico 2-3 England: Bellingham and Kane star in thrilling last-16 tie

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were both on target as 10-man England held out for a superb 3-2 win over Mexico to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

With kick-off delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms over the Azteca, England wrestled control through Bellingham's first-half brace, though Julian Quinones kept Mexico in the tie.

After Jarell Quansah's straight red card, Kane's penalty restored the two-goal cushion before Raul Jimenez's spot-kick put the pressure back on, but England held their nerve to book a meeting with Norway in the last eight.

Mexico dominated the early stages and could have taken a 15th-minute lead when Jimenez threw himself onto the end of Roberto Alvarado's cross, but his diving header was brilliantly tipped wide by Jordan Pickford.

Bukayo Saka then set off on a pacy counter-attack down the right, and his dangerous cross was nodded in at the far post by Bellingham 36 minutes in.

Just 98 seconds later, Bellingham doubled their lead. England won the ball in midfield, and the Real Madrid midfielder played a one-two with Kane, finishing off the move with a close-range tap-in.

England were caught out just four minutes later, though, as they failed to clear Alvarado's free-kick, and Quinones lashed an instinctive volley into the roof of the net.

Mexico finished the half on top, with Jimenez scuffing a half-volley wide before a glancing header forced another stretching save out of Pickford, while Bellingham made a last-ditch clearance to deny Cesar Montes from close range.

England started the second half on the front foot, with Nico O'Reilly's low drive deflecting off Bellingham and against the foot of the right post.

But in the 54th minute, they went down to 10 men. Quansah slid in to win the ball, but went over it to catch Jesus Gallardo on the shin, and he was given his marching orders following a VAR review.

England restored their two-goal cushion on the hour; Anthony Gordon won a penalty after beating Raul Rangel to Kane's flick-on, with the England captain confidently converting from 12 yards.

But Kane was then penalised at the other end, as Brian Gutierrez beat him to a loose ball. The spot-kick was given following a VAR review, and Jimenez fired past a wrong-footed Pickford in the 69th minute.

Mexico pushed for the equaliser that would have taken the tie to extra time, but while Jimenez scooped an effort over, England threw bodies on the line to protect their advantage and hold out for the win.

Three Lions breach Azteca fortress

The Azteca has been a stronghold for Mexico in the World Cup, and they came into the match with a daunting record, having gone unbeaten in 10 such games before Sunday, but England were determined to put their ghosts behind them.

The last time they were in this stadium was a 2-1 quarter-final loss in the 1986 World Cup – due to Diego Maradona's 'hand of God' goal – but Bellingham rose to the occasion.

He scored both of his goals by the 38th minute, which is the second-earliest a player has scored twice in a World Cup match for England, after Gary Lineker v Poland in 1986 (14th minute).

But Mexico's superstar also turned up, and Quinones has a record to his name. No player has scored more World Cup goals for them than Quinones (four, level with Luis Hernandez and Javier Hernandez). He is also the first-ever Mexican to score in three consecutive appearances at the finals.

England remained patient even after going a man down, though, and got their reward through Kane's penalty.

The 32-year-old has netted six World Cup goals this year, marking only the second time a Three Lions player has hit that tally in a major tournament, after Lineker (1986) and Kane himself (2018).

It was a landmark day for Pickford, who made his 17th World Cup appearance, equalling Peter Shilton's all-time record. And he stood tall in goal as England faced 20 shots, five of which were on target. 

But their reward is a third straight World Cup quarter-final, and an 11th overall – only Brazil (15) and Germany (14) have reached more in the tournament's history.