Jude Bellingham’s brace propelled a resilient England side to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half. The win advances England into the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Norway.
The Round of 16 match, postponed by an hour due to severe weather in Mexico City, delivered high drama in front of a packed stadium. England began the game composed, overcoming the hostile atmosphere and the challenges posed by the high altitude.
Bellingham opened the scoring midway through the first half, expertly heading in a cross from Bukayo Saka. Barely two minutes later, he doubled the lead with a powerful finish after receiving a low cross from Harry Kane. Kane himself contributed to England’s tally by converting a penalty later in the match.
Mexico remained competitive, pulling one back before halftime when Julian Quinones struck into the roof of the net following a poorly cleared set-piece. The goal kept the home side firmly in contention.
England Faces Adversity but Holds Firm
Early in the second half, England’s situation worsened when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a challenge on Jesus Gallardo. Despite the numerical disadvantage, England managed to reestablish their two-goal cushion within six minutes, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
With this hard-fought victory, Thomas Tuchel’s squad has not only advanced further in the tournament but also showcased their ability to perform under pressure in one of football’s most iconic stadiums.