Kane passes Pelé, Tielemans scores World Cup's latest ever goal

Wednesday’s round of 32 served up a World Cup record, an extra-time fever dream, and a USMNT backline holding the fort with ten men. Pick your favorite, but Youri Tielemans probably wins on drama alone.

Kane goes past Pelé

Harry Kane spent most of ninety minutes looking mortal against Congo DR before rescuing England twice in the final quarter-hour. Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute strike had Congo DR ahead and dreaming. Kane headed home an Anthony Gordon cross in the 75th to level it up, drawing level with Pelé’s tally of 12 World Cup goals in the process, then rifled in the winner from another Gordon delivery in the 86th to move clear of the Brazilian great outright. England scrape into the last 16 to face co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca on July 5. Kane probably would have preferred a gentler draw.

Tielemans, with the clock reading 124:44

Belgium looked cooked. Second-half goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr had Senegal 2-0 up. Then Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans struck twice in three minutes (86th and 89th) to drag the game to extra time. Cue the chaos: Lamine Camara fouled Tielemans in the 117th minute, VAR chewed on it for seven minutes, and the resulting penalty went in with the clock showing 124 minutes and 44 seconds, the latest goal ever scored at a World Cup. Senegal’s players were not fans of the decision. Neither were plenty of pundits watching. The record stands anyway. Belgium moves on to face USA on July 6.

USA grinds one out with ten men

Folarin Balogun put the co-hosts ahead just before halftime against Bosnia-Herzegovina, then saw red in the 64th minute for raking his boot down Tarik Muharemovic’s leg, a call referee Raphael Claus reached only after a VAR review. Down a man for the rest of the match, USA still found a second: Malik Tillman curled in a free kick in the 82nd to make it 2-0, sealing the country’s first World Cup knockout win since 2002.

Round of 16 preview: USA host Belgium on July 6, both sides fresh off extra-time and ten-man drama.

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