England triumph in Azteca Stadium thriller
England secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16, progressing to the quarter-finals. The match, held at the Azteca Stadium, saw England overcome a red card and a determined Mexican side to set up a clash with Norway.
The game was delayed by an hour due to severe storms, adding to the anticipation. Despite the challenging conditions, Thomas Tuchel’s side delivered a strong performance, described as their best of the tournament so far. Mexico, known for their formidable record at the Azteca, had only lost two of 89 competitive games at their home ground before this encounter.
England took command early, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice within 98 seconds before half-time. However, Mexico responded when Julian Quinones pulled a goal back three minutes before the break. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several key saves, denying Raul Jimenez on two occasions.
Second-half drama and fan reactions
The second half brought further drama. Jarell Quansah received a red card for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, leaving England to play with 10 men. Despite this setback, England restored their two-goal lead when Harry Kane converted a penalty after Anthony Gordon was fouled by goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
Mexico were awarded a penalty shortly after when Kane fouled Brian Gutierrez, and Jimenez successfully converted the spot-kick, narrowing England’s lead once more. With England under pressure, Tuchel made tactical substitutions, bringing on Dan Burn and Djed Spence, and shifting to a five-man defence to see out the final 11 minutes of stoppage time.
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 late start but affirmed his dedication, saying, “I’ve got work in four hours, but it’s alright, we’ll do anything for our country.”
Graham Munro from Brighton praised the team’s defensive effort, particularly after going down to 10 men, describing the experience as “so tense and stressful.” Rosie Hunt, also watching in Brighton, likened the match to a “rollercoaster.” Chris Michaelas, who manages Dartford Sports Bar, commented that the game “had everything,” including goals, penalties, red cards, drama, and suspense.
Mexican media reflects on ‘Aztecazo’
Mexican media outlets lamented the defeat, referring to it as a “most-painful Aztecazo.” The result marked only the third competitive loss for Mexico at the Azteca Stadium since its opening in 1966. Reports highlighted the disappointment of Mexican fans who had hoped their team could overcome a powerhouse like England.
ESPN Deportes noted that the hopes of the Mexico City Stadium were dashed in the 101st minute, with 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.”
The match was described by AS as the “Game of the Century” of the new era, pushing England to their “human 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
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As News-GB's Sports Reporter, Megan Sinclair reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name interviewing rising British talent. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Edinburgh and completed an NCTJ diploma. Megan lives in Edinburgh, where she plays club tennis and follows track athletics. “Give the athletes room and the story tells itself.”