GELSENKIRCHEN-. England advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Championship after Jude Bellingham scored a stunning scissor kick in the fifth minute of added time to spark a 2-1 extra-time comeback on Sunday against Slovakia.
Bellingham’s acrobatic strike levelled the match at 1-1 with seconds remaining in the round of 16 tie at the Veltins Arena.
Then Harry Kane scored the winning header in the first minute of extra time to help England avoid one of the biggest upsets in Euro history.
Ivan Schranz scored in the first half to give Slovakia the goal that looked like it would be enough to eliminate the English, who came into the tournament as favourites after playing in the final in the last edition.
But Bellingham’s powerful goal sent the match into extra time and Kane sealed the victory as England booked their place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland in Düsseldorf.
Throughout the game, it loomed as one of the most humiliating defeats England had ever suffered, alongside their elimination at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016.
Boos rang out in the stadium in the first half as frustration grew among fans after Slovakia took the lead through Schranz’s goal in the 25th minute.
England, fifth in the FIFA ranking, dominated the second half in search of an equalizer and managed to hit the ball into the net at the end of the match.
Phil Foden’s goal was disallowed by VAR for offside and Kane missed a goal-scoring opportunity with a header from close range.
Source: AP
