by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Mexico 2 - 3 England
Quinones (42'), Jimenez (pen 69’) | Bellingham (36’, 38’), Kane (pen 60’)
Red: Quansah 54’
England and Mexico fought out one of the all-time most memorable, classic World Cup matches in an incredible clash at the Azteca which was packed with action, incidents, drama, and individual quality.
England had to play for most of the game with 10 men after losing Jarell Quansah to an unlucky but deserved red card in the 54th minute. It took a backs-to-the-wall performance from England to hang on for dear life as an extremely vocal Mexican crowd tried to roar their team to victory.
The result is even more impressive for England when you consider that Mexico had never lost a World Cup game at the Azteca in 10 appearances up until today.
Mexico saw most of the ball in the opening stages of the match as they looked to press their home advantage, roared on by the loudest crowd we’ve heard at the tournament yet. However, England remain one of the most potent counter-attacking sides in the world, along with France, and so it proved.
A breakaway from England saw Bukayo Saka use his blistering pace to get into a great position to cross to meet the perfectly timed run of Bellingham at the back post, who headed home confidently.
And the home side were reeling moments later when Bellingham scored a second. England broke again, and with the Mexico defence in disarray expecting Harry Kane to shoot, he pulled it to a central area for Bellingham to slot home under pressure. 2-0.
But while it might have seemed for a second England might have control of the game, it wasn’t to be as Mexico came back into proceedings just 4 minutes later with a brilliant hammered Quinones finish from the middle of the box into the roof of the net past a sprawling Jordan Pickford.
Mexico then attacked in wave after wave, forcing England to defend for their lives as half time approached.
In the second half, England hit the post with a deflected O’Reilly shot that could have put the game out of sight, but then things unravelled for the Three Lions when Quansah made what seemed like an excellent tackle, but on replays showed his foot ride over the ball and hit the ankle of Jesus Gallardo with his studs facing upwards. Unfortunately an indisputable red card.
Faced with the prospect of playing with 10 men, and with only a one goal lead, England tried to fashion something, and Anthony Gordon, bursting through on goal, was tripped by Rangel. Penalty to England, converted with panache by Harry Kane. 3-1.
But down the other end soon after, Kane went to clear the ball and caught the leg of Brian Gutierrez in the air. VAR reviewed it and issued a penalty to Mexico, which Jimenez scored.
Faced with unrelenting pressure for an equaliser from Mexico, England sacrificed Saka and brought on more defenders, with the plan to sit and defend their box to the bitter end from as early as the 70th minute.
It was a backs-to-the-wall performance that looked unlikely to come off in the cauldron of the Azteca, but Mexico had no ideas for how to break down England’s low block and couldn’t find a way through whatever they tried.
Even when the referee added 11 minutes of stoppages, it wasn’t enough, and England secured one of their most famous World Cup victories of all time, here at an arena that has caused so much heartache for them in the past.
England will face Norway in the Quarter Finals next.
8 min read
Last 16: England and Mexico fight out El Classico at Azteca
No way through the brick wall.
8 min read
Mexico 2 - 3 England
Quinones (42'), Jimenez (pen 69’) | Bellingham (36’, 38’), Kane (pen 60’)
Red: Quansah 54’
England and Mexico fought out one of the all-time most memorable, classic World Cup matches in an incredible clash at the Azteca which was packed with action, incidents, drama, and individual quality.
England had to play for most of the game with 10 men after losing Jarell Quansah to an unlucky but deserved red card in the 54th minute. It took a backs-to-the-wall performance from England to hang on for dear life as an extremely vocal Mexican crowd tried to roar their team to victory.
The result is even more impressive for England when you consider that Mexico had never lost a World Cup game at the Azteca in 10 appearances up until today.
Mexico saw most of the ball in the opening stages of the match as they looked to press their home advantage, roared on by the loudest crowd we’ve heard at the tournament yet. However, England remain one of the most potent counter-attacking sides in the world, along with France, and so it proved.
A breakaway from England saw Bukayo Saka use his blistering pace to get into a great position to cross to meet the perfectly timed run of Bellingham at the back post, who headed home confidently.
And the home side were reeling moments later when Bellingham scored a second. England broke again, and with the Mexico defence in disarray expecting Harry Kane to shoot, he pulled it to a central area for Bellingham to slot home under pressure. 2-0.
But while it might have seemed for a second England might have control of the game, it wasn’t to be as Mexico came back into proceedings just 4 minutes later with a brilliant hammered Quinones finish from the middle of the box into the roof of the net past a sprawling Jordan Pickford.
Mexico then attacked in wave after wave, forcing England to defend for their lives as half time approached.
In the second half, England hit the post with a deflected O’Reilly shot that could have put the game out of sight, but then things unravelled for the Three Lions when Quansah made what seemed like an excellent tackle, but on replays showed his foot ride over the ball and hit the ankle of Jesus Gallardo with his studs facing upwards. Unfortunately an indisputable red card.
Faced with the prospect of playing with 10 men, and with only a one goal lead, England tried to fashion something, and Anthony Gordon, bursting through on goal, was tripped by Rangel. Penalty to England, converted with panache by Harry Kane. 3-1.
But down the other end soon after, Kane went to clear the ball and caught the leg of Brian Gutierrez in the air. VAR reviewed it and issued a penalty to Mexico, which Jimenez scored.
Faced with unrelenting pressure for an equaliser from Mexico, England sacrificed Saka and brought on more defenders, with the plan to sit and defend their box to the bitter end from as early as the 70th minute.
It was a backs-to-the-wall performance that looked unlikely to come off in the cauldron of the Azteca, but Mexico had no ideas for how to break down England’s low block and couldn’t find a way through whatever they tried.
Even when the referee added 11 minutes of stoppages, it wasn’t enough, and England secured one of their most famous World Cup victories of all time, here at an arena that has caused so much heartache for them in the past.
England will face Norway in the Quarter Finals next.
Last 16: England and Mexico fight out El Classico at Azteca
No way through the brick wall.
Original article:
Mexico 2 - 3 England
Quinones (42'), Jimenez (pen 69’) | Bellingham (36’, 38’), Kane (pen 60’)
Red: Quansah 54’
England and Mexico fought out one of the all-time most memorable, classic World Cup matches in an incredible clash at the Azteca which was packed with action, incidents, drama, and individual quality.
England had to play for most of the game with 10 men after losing Jarell Quansah to an unlucky but deserved red card in the 54th minute. It took a backs-to-the-wall performance from England to hang on for dear life as an extremely vocal Mexican crowd tried to roar their team to victory.
The result is even more impressive for England when you consider that Mexico had never lost a World Cup game at the Azteca in 10 appearances up until today.
Mexico saw most of the ball in the opening stages of the match as they looked to press their home advantage, roared on by the loudest crowd we’ve heard at the tournament yet. However, England remain one of the most potent counter-attacking sides in the world, along with France, and so it proved.
A breakaway from England saw Bukayo Saka use his blistering pace to get into a great position to cross to meet the perfectly timed run of Bellingham at the back post, who headed home confidently.
And the home side were reeling moments later when Bellingham scored a second. England broke again, and with the Mexico defence in disarray expecting Harry Kane to shoot, he pulled it to a central area for Bellingham to slot home under pressure. 2-0.
But while it might have seemed for a second England might have control of the game, it wasn’t to be as Mexico came back into proceedings just 4 minutes later with a brilliant hammered Quinones finish from the middle of the box into the roof of the net past a sprawling Jordan Pickford.
Mexico then attacked in wave after wave, forcing England to defend for their lives as half time approached.
In the second half, England hit the post with a deflected O’Reilly shot that could have put the game out of sight, but then things unravelled for the Three Lions when Quansah made what seemed like an excellent tackle, but on replays showed his foot ride over the ball and hit the ankle of Jesus Gallardo with his studs facing upwards. Unfortunately an indisputable red card.
Faced with the prospect of playing with 10 men, and with only a one goal lead, England tried to fashion something, and Anthony Gordon, bursting through on goal, was tripped by Rangel. Penalty to England, converted with panache by Harry Kane. 3-1.
But down the other end soon after, Kane went to clear the ball and caught the leg of Brian Gutierrez in the air. VAR reviewed it and issued a penalty to Mexico, which Jimenez scored.
Faced with unrelenting pressure for an equaliser from Mexico, England sacrificed Saka and brought on more defenders, with the plan to sit and defend their box to the bitter end from as early as the 70th minute.
It was a backs-to-the-wall performance that looked unlikely to come off in the cauldron of the Azteca, but Mexico had no ideas for how to break down England’s low block and couldn’t find a way through whatever they tried.
Even when the referee added 11 minutes of stoppages, it wasn’t enough, and England secured one of their most famous World Cup victories of all time, here at an arena that has caused so much heartache for them in the past.
England will face Norway in the Quarter Finals next.
8 min read
Last 16: England and Mexico fight out El Classico at Azteca
No way through the brick wall.
Mexico 2 - 3 England
Quinones (42'), Jimenez (pen 69’) | Bellingham (36’, 38’), Kane (pen 60’)
Red: Quansah 54’
England and Mexico fought out one of the all-time most memorable, classic World Cup matches in an incredible clash at the Azteca which was packed with action, incidents, drama, and individual quality.
England had to play for most of the game with 10 men after losing Jarell Quansah to an unlucky but deserved red card in the 54th minute. It took a backs-to-the-wall performance from England to hang on for dear life as an extremely vocal Mexican crowd tried to roar their team to victory.
The result is even more impressive for England when you consider that Mexico had never lost a World Cup game at the Azteca in 10 appearances up until today.
Mexico saw most of the ball in the opening stages of the match as they looked to press their home advantage, roared on by the loudest crowd we’ve heard at the tournament yet. However, England remain one of the most potent counter-attacking sides in the world, along with France, and so it proved.
A breakaway from England saw Bukayo Saka use his blistering pace to get into a great position to cross to meet the perfectly timed run of Bellingham at the back post, who headed home confidently.
And the home side were reeling moments later when Bellingham scored a second. England broke again, and with the Mexico defence in disarray expecting Harry Kane to shoot, he pulled it to a central area for Bellingham to slot home under pressure. 2-0.
But while it might have seemed for a second England might have control of the game, it wasn’t to be as Mexico came back into proceedings just 4 minutes later with a brilliant hammered Quinones finish from the middle of the box into the roof of the net past a sprawling Jordan Pickford.
Mexico then attacked in wave after wave, forcing England to defend for their lives as half time approached.
In the second half, England hit the post with a deflected O’Reilly shot that could have put the game out of sight, but then things unravelled for the Three Lions when Quansah made what seemed like an excellent tackle, but on replays showed his foot ride over the ball and hit the ankle of Jesus Gallardo with his studs facing upwards. Unfortunately an indisputable red card.
Faced with the prospect of playing with 10 men, and with only a one goal lead, England tried to fashion something, and Anthony Gordon, bursting through on goal, was tripped by Rangel. Penalty to England, converted with panache by Harry Kane. 3-1.
But down the other end soon after, Kane went to clear the ball and caught the leg of Brian Gutierrez in the air. VAR reviewed it and issued a penalty to Mexico, which Jimenez scored.
Faced with unrelenting pressure for an equaliser from Mexico, England sacrificed Saka and brought on more defenders, with the plan to sit and defend their box to the bitter end from as early as the 70th minute.
It was a backs-to-the-wall performance that looked unlikely to come off in the cauldron of the Azteca, but Mexico had no ideas for how to break down England’s low block and couldn’t find a way through whatever they tried.
Even when the referee added 11 minutes of stoppages, it wasn’t enough, and England secured one of their most famous World Cup victories of all time, here at an arena that has caused so much heartache for them in the past.
England will face Norway in the Quarter Finals next.
8 min read