From The Sports Desk: England wins in the Azteca

4 weeks ago 7

Ten-man England earned its top World Cup triumph connected overseas ungraded by defeating co-host Mexico astatine Estadio Azteca, banishing the shade of Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” successful the aforesaid stadium 40 years ago. England volition adjacent look Norway — which shocked Brazil 2-1 yesterday. Looking to articulation them successful the quarterfinals volition beryllium the U.S., boosted by the reversal of apical extremity scorer Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, aft an involution to FIFA from the president.

World Cup Recap

Much had been made successful the buildup to the Mexico-England circular of 16 clash of the unfavorable conditions for the distant squad — not lone that Thomas Tuchel’s squad would not person clip to set to the oxygen-sapping 7,352-foot altitude, but besides El Tri’s formidable grounds astatine the Azteca (played 89 competitory games, won 70, drawn 17 and mislaid two). But England, contempt having lone 33.2% possession, made a mockery of some successful the wildest lucifer of the tourney truthful acold that saw 5 goals, 7 cards — including 1 reddish — 2 punishment kicks and aggregate momentum twists.

on-field enactment during a satellite cupful match.

England achieved its archetypal task by shutting retired Mexico, known for its accelerated starts successful this tournament, successful the archetypal “quarter” up to the hydration break. Then, astatine 36 minutes, Jude Bellingham enactment England successful the pb aft Declan Rice dribbled unchallenged for 60 yards earlier passing to Bukayo Saka, who crossed for the Real Madrid antheral to caput home. It was the archetypal clip Mexico had conceded successful this tournament.

Ninety-eight seconds later, a tenacious England stole the shot successful the Mexico half, allowing Bellingham to play a one-two with Harry Kane and pat location to marque it 2-0.

The program for the Three Lions, then, was not to concede earlier halftime. But Mexico winger Julián Quiñones pounced connected a escaped shot aft England’s defence failed to wide a escaped kick, scoring his 4th extremity of the tourney with a close-range volley.

The 2nd fractional continued successful full-throttle mode; England’s makeshift close back Jarell Quansah became the 4th Englishman to beryllium sent disconnected astatine a World Cup erstwhile helium caught Jesús Gallardo’s shins with his studs, handing the co-host a lifeline.

In a uncommon foray forward, Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel wiped retired the speedy Anthony Gordon inside the container and Kane made nary mistake from the spot to people his sixth extremity astatine this World Cup, making it 3-1 England.

Mexico clawed a extremity backmost of its ain from the punishment spot but could not find an equalizer aft heroic last-ditch defending by England. Towering halfway back Dan Burn made six clearances unsocial aft coming connected arsenic a 75th-minute substitute.

In yesterday’s different circular of 16 match, Norway’s Erling Haaland got the amended of his Premier League rival Gabriel Magalhães of five-time champion Brazil, scoring doubly arsenic the Vikings rowed their mode to the past 8 of the World Cup for the archetypal time. Haaland’s treble makes this the archetypal World Cup successful which 3 players — Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Haaland — person scored seven-plus goals.

Preview

Balogun’s American imagination is backmost connected track. The United States’ apical extremity scorer successful this World Cup has been reinstated for today’s circular of 16 lucifer against Belgium aft helium earned a reddish paper successful the circular of 32 triumph implicit Bosnia-Herzegovina, ending a 10-game, four-year losing streak to European opponents.

Belgium’s shot federation blasted the ruling to reinstate, saying it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision.

According to a root acquainted with the matter, President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to reappraisal Balogun’s suspension.

With oregon without Balogun, the co-host volition beryllium feeling assured against a Belgium squad that has flattered to deceive successful this tourney truthful far. It needed the latest extremity scored successful World Cup past (124 minutes and 44 seconds) to vanquish Senegal successful the erstwhile round.

The U.S. oregon Belgium volition look the victor of the star-studded Iberian Clásico successful Dallas, wherever Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal look European champion Spain astatine 3 p.m. ET.