10-man England survive two penalties and 11 minutes of injury time to beat Mexico

England reached the World Cup quarter-finals after a gruelling late-night victory over Mexico in Mexico City, with Jude Bellingham’s first-half brace and a Harry Kane penalty proving enough to withstand a relentless Mexican fightback that stretched into 11 minutes of stoppage time.

The match was delayed by an hour due to storms, pushing kick-off into the early hours for supporters back in the UK. Despite the unsociable timing, fans stayed up in large numbers to watch — and were rewarded with a result that left many describing the lost sleep as “100 per cent worth it”.

Bellingham gave England a commanding foothold with two goals in the opening half, before Anthony Gordon’s brilliance created the opportunity for Kane to convert from the spot and extend the lead. The evening was far from straightforward, however. Jarell Quansah was shown a red card, leaving England to defend with ten men, and Mexico were awarded two penalties as they pressed for a way back into the contest.

England held firm through the chaos of an extended injury period, surviving Mexico’s relentless pressure to seal their place in the last eight. The combination of the red card, the penalties, the storm delay, and the sheer length of the match made for an agonising watch, but the final whistle brought scenes of jubilation among fans who had sacrificed their night’s sleep for the occasion.