O'Reilly, Guéhi, and Anderson Drive England to World Cup Quarter-Finals with Win Over Mexico
The Three Lions ousted co-hosts Mexico in a high-scoring match at the Azteca Stadium, finishing 3-2. The kickoff faced a one-hour delay, and England had to battle not only the home crowd but also the challenge of playing at altitude.
Despite early pressure from Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford held firm, keeping his side in the contest. England struck first when Jude Bellingham scored twice within just 98 seconds during the first half, giving them a comfortable lead and silencing the stadium.
Mexico responded before halftime as Julian Quinones found the net, narrowing the gap. After the break, England pushed for more; Nico O’Reilly hit the post, showing their intent. But the match took a turn when Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card in the 54th minute, leaving England down to ten men.
Shortly after, Anthony Gordon was fouled by the Mexican goalkeeper inside the box, and Harry Kane calmly converted the penalty to extend England’s lead. Mexico earned a penalty themselves soon after, which Jimenez converted, keeping the score tight.
Even with a player disadvantage, England’s defense stood strong, managing the remaining minutes with determination to secure their 3-2 victory. This win sets up an exciting quarter-final showdown against Norway, led by Erling Haaland, featuring key players Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, and Elliot Anderson.
