2018 FIFA World Cup: Harry Kane to the rescue as England defeat Tunisia 2-1

Harry Kane scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as England left it late to defeat Tunisia 2-1 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup finals opener in Volgograd, Russia.

The 24-year-old captain and Tottenham Hotpsur striker opened the scoring in the 11th minute, before Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot in the 35th minute following defender Kyle Walker’s elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef in the box.

But Kane, who scored 41 goals in all competitions for Spurs during the 2017-18 campaign, nodded home the Three Lions’ winner in the first minute of stoppage time in the second-half following Harry Maguire’s flick on from Kieran Trippier’s corner.

England’s Harry Kane scoring the last-minute winner.

Tonight’s victory was England’s first win in the opening game of a major tournament since they beat Paraguay in the 2006 World Cup.

Statistics showed that the Three Lions had six shots on target in the first-half, which was their most in the opening 45 minutes of a World Cup match since the 1966 semi-final against Portugal.

Kane’s team mate at Tottenham, full-back Trippier, created six goalscoring opportunities, more than any other player has managed in the tournament so far this summer.

Then, the goalscorer himself, Kane, he has now found the back of the net in his past four games for his country, his best run for the national team.

England team mates celebrate Kane’s opening goal against Tunisia.

Spurs’ star striker has scored 15 goals in 25 appearances for England – the last player to score more in their opening 25 games for England was Gary Lineker (20).

Gareth Southgate’s side face Panama next in Group G on Sunday with kick-off at 13:00pm, following their opening 3-0 loss to Belgium on Monday afternoon.

Written by Dan Church Follow @DJChurch94