England advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup after coming from behind to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a hard-fought contest.
Harry Kane's brace will grab the headlines, but it was the introduction of Barcelona summer signing Anthony Gordon that changed the game. The winger came off the bench to provide both assists and make his biggest impact of the tournament so far.
His first assist came from a looping cross after he kept the ball alive in the final third, while his second was a perfectly weighted pass for Kane, who shifted the ball onto his favoured foot before producing a superb finish that gave the impressive goalkeeper no chance.
Former Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford was preferred to Gordon in the starting lineup but struggled to make an impact, with his final ball, whether a shot or a cross, lacking quality throughout the night. Thomas Tuchel introduced Gordon and Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute, and the game immediately swung in England's favour.
England became far more direct, delivering better service into the forwards and committing more bodies into the penalty area, allowing Harry Kane to make the decisive difference.
This was the former Newcastle winger's first major contribution of the World Cup after disappointing in his opening two matches.
Gordon's Barcelona role is clear
Coming off the bench when England needed a spark gave Barcelona fans a glimpse of Anthony Gordon's potential role at the club. While the summer signing commanded a significant transfer fee, the gap in quality between Raphinha and Gordon remains clear.
Although he can play across the front three, Gordon is at his best on the left wing. His pace and direct running make him an ideal option to change games, especially when defences begin to tire. As he showed for England, he has the ability to stretch opponents and create the moments that can turn a match in his team's favour.
Making that impact from the bench will bring significant pressure, with little time to settle into games, but producing on the World Cup stage has shown Gordon is capable of delivering when it matters.
His role at Barcelona could evolve if Raphinha leaves for Saudi Arabia, but Hansi Flick will undoubtedly have a clear plan for his new signing, whether he is used as an impact substitute or develops into a regular starter.
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