England defender Jarel Quansah was the topic of controversy in a breathtakingly chaotic match on the Estadio Azteca.
His sending off within the 54th minute threatened to fully shatter the Three Lions’ match desires in entrance of a hostile crowd.
With England holding a slim 2-1 lead because of Jude Bellingham’s magical double within the first half, Quansah dived in for a problem on Mexican left-back Jesus Gallardo.
The 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen man was clearly the primary to win the ball, however the momentum of his subsequent stud-up caught Gallardo excessive within the shins.
Australian referee Alireza Faghani initially ordered play to proceed, however fast VAR intervention modified all the things. Faghani trotted again to the pitchside monitor and waved a purple card straight at him.
Tensions rise between Mexico and England
This choice instantly induced absolute pandemonium. An enormous brawl broke out on the touchline, with El Tri icon Guillermo Ochoa main a violent confrontation between two teaching employees.
BBC Sport’s former World Cup official Darren Cann stated the referee in the end had “no selection” regardless of Quansah touching the ball.
Traditionally, a purple card in a knockout sport is the place England’s match desires finish – assume David Beckham in 1998 or Wayne Rooney in 2006.
However this repetition below stress confirmed true backbone. Relatively than retreating fully right into a defensive shell, England mounted a counterpunch.
England nonetheless maintain benefit on Aztecs
Six minutes later, Anthony Gordon was introduced down within the field and captain Harry Kane sunk the decisive penalty.
After Raul Jimenez pulled one again for Mexico to make it 3-2, the 10-man Lions dug deep to outlive the remainder of the onslaught.
Quansah’s sort out was extremely easy. Within the fashionable period of VAR, a sort out that leaves each ft off the bottom with uncovered studs is a giant gamble, particularly contained in the noisy Aztec Stadium.
England managed to climate the storm this time, however dropping a key defensive asset to suspension forward of the quarter-finals is a self-inflicted wound they may have achieved with out.
