England overcome Mexico in a dramatic encounter
England secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals. The match, held at the Azteca Stadium, saw Thomas Tuchel’s side overcome a red card and a late surge from Mexico to set up a clash with Norway.
The game was delayed by an hour due to severe storms, adding to the tension of the occasion. Despite the challenging conditions, England took an early command, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice within 98 seconds before half-time. This performance was described as England’s best display of the tournament so far.
Mexico, who had only lost two of 89 competitive games at their Azteca fortress, found a goal back through Julian Quinones three minutes before the break. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several saves, notably from Raul Jimenez, but was unable to stop Quinones’ powerful finish.
Second-half drama and fan reactions
The second half brought further drama when Jarell Quansah received a red card for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo. Despite being reduced to 10 men, England restored their two-goal lead when Harry Kane converted a penalty after Anthony Gordon was fouled by goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
However, the lead was again cut short when Kane conceded a penalty, allowing Jimenez to score from the spot. With England under pressure, Tuchel introduced Dan Burn and Djed Spence, shifting to a five-man defence to see out 11 minutes of stoppage time and secure the 3-2 win.
Fans across the South East of England celebrated the victory. Mick Allen from Dartford expressed his excitement, stating, “The World Cup is coming home!” Connor Burns, who watched the game in Brighton, acknowledged the early start time for the match but emphasized his dedication to supporting the country.
Graham Munro, also watching from Brighton, praised the team’s “heroic” defending, especially after Quansah’s red card. Rosie Hunt described the experience as a “rollercoaster,” highlighting the intense emotions of the game. Chris Michaelas, who runs Dartford Sports Bar, commented that the match “had everything” – goals, penalties, red cards, drama, and suspense.
Mexican media reflects on the ‘Aztecazo’
Mexican media reacted to the defeat, with many outlets lamenting what they termed the “most painful Aztecazo.” The result marked only the third competitive loss for Mexico at the Azteca Stadium since its opening in 1966. Reports from ESPN Deportes noted that the hopes of the Mexico City Stadium were dashed in the 101st minute, despite fans refusing to give up until the very end.
El Universal and AS Mexico also used the term “Aztecazo” to describe the definitive nature of the loss. El Universal stated that Mexico bowed out of the World Cup with their heads held high, acknowledging that clinical finishing, as demonstrated by Bellingham’s brace, often defines powerful teams. The publication also noted that possession, which favored the Mexican team, became a mere statistic as England endured suffering from start to finish.
AS described the match as the “Game of the Century” for the new era, highlighting how Javier Aguirre’s ‘Tri’ pushed England to their limits in a delirious and legendary match. England will now face Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.com