England battled past Mexico into the World Cup quarterfinals, and Norway stunned Brazil as a FIFA decision to reprieve United States star Folarin Balogun after an intervention from Donald Trump triggered uproar.
A day of gripping drama on and off the field was crowned by an epic contest at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca as 10-man England dug deep to defeat Mexico, 3-2, in a match that more than lived up to the hype.
Jude Bellingham looked to have put England firmly on the road to the quarterfinals after scoring twice in 98 seconds to give the Three Lions a 2-0 lead after 38 minutes.
Mexico hit back through Julian Quinones to make it 2-1 at halftime and were given a huge boost on 54 minutes when England defender Jarell Quansah was given a straight red card after a VAR review.
England, though, shrugged off that setback to make it 3-1 with a Harry Kane penalty.
Mexico refused to roll over, and another controversial VAR review saw them awarded a penalty by Australian referee Alireza Faghani, Raul Jimenez slotting in to make it 3-2.
England’s increasingly weary lineup resisted wave after wave of Mexican pressure to hold on for a famous victory.
Haaland wrecks Brazil
The win sends England into quarterfinals in Miami, where they will face Norway, who defeated Brazil, 2-1, in another gripping knockout battle.
Two late goals from star striker Erling Haaland set up the win for the Norwegians to shatter Brazil’s hopes of a sixth world title.
Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a sensational display and saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes before Haaland struck twice in the last 11 minutes to stun Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Haaland’s brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament.
For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth straight tournament where they have been knocked out by European opposition.
Their loss marked Brazil’s earliest exit at a World Cup since they were eliminated in the last 16 by Argentina in 1990. (Agence France-Presse)