Kane becomes England’s top World Cup goalscorer as Three Lions edge past Panama | OneFootball

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Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer as his and Jude Bellingham’s second-half goals were enough to beat Panama 2-0 and win Group L.

Jude Bellingham stuck out a leg to direct Bukayo Saka’s corner into the net after an unconvincing first half, before England struck again not long after as Bellingham’s accurate cross was powered home by the head of Kane.

The Three Lions left the New York New Jersey Stadium with maximum points to confirm a meeting with either Senegal or DR Congo in the round of 32, while Panama exit the World Cup bottom of the group without winning or scoring.

As it happened

A number of changes were made by Thomas Tuchel with Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, Nico O’Reilly and Jarell Quansah coming into the starting XI. Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen too made changes.

Tomás Rodríguez, Fidel Escobar, Jorge Gutiérrez were brought to the team – seven members of the Panama squad remain from the 6-1 loss to England in 2018.

Early shots, hard and low, from Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka applied early pressure to the Panama goalkeeper, Orlando Mosquera, who had a busy evening. England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, was also called into action early when José Luis Rodriguez fired the ball from distance to force a corner.

It was Rashford who came closest in the first half with a free-kick that flew just past the post and when Elliot Anderson looped a cross to the back post and the winger headed the ball just over the bar.

Shortly into the second-half there was a scramble in the Panama six-yard box when José Córdoba sliced a clearance against his teammate Andrés Andrade.

With Harry Kane sniffing around and the ball bouncing loose it was a shock not to see the ball in the net and the action given as a Panama free-kick.

Cometh the hour cometh the man. Jude Bellingham opened the score from a Saka corner that he swung his left foot at, directing it into the back of the net.

A precise delivery, arriving on the six-yard line, was seen all the way by the Real Madrid man to highlight England’s strength at set-pieces.

The lead was doubled by a Kane header minutes later. Bellingham went from scorer to provider with a delightfully lofted cross into an area where Kane has been so deadly throughout the season.

Kane’s 11th goal across his four World Cups surpassed Gary Lineker’s tally to create history at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Panama didn’t fold after going behind when they created a flurry of half-chances. Having made the game uncomfortable for England throughout, they gave a good account of themselves despite not registering a point or a goal.

That first goal at this World Cup did come in added-time when José Farjado beat Pickford in a 1v1 and the Panamanians erupted, only for the linesman to put his flag up. The score stayed 0-2 and that is how it ended.

England will now play either Senegal or DR Congo in Atlanta in the round of 32 on the 1st of July.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

Panama – England Live Score