In a thrilling encounter at Wembley Stadium, England earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Slovakia, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane inspiring a second-half comeback to secure the three points. Slovakia started brightly and took the lead against the run of play when Robert Mak capitalised on an error by Declan Rice. The hosts pushed for an equaliser, but the Slovakian defence held firm. However, Bellingham’s introduction at half-time changed the complexion of the game. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder injected energy into the England attack and played a crucial role in creating the equaliser. In the 55th minute, Bellingham’s driving run into the box forced a corner. Moments later, his pinpoint delivery found the head of Harry Kane, who nodded home from close range. Kane, who had endured a quiet first half, grew in confidence after scoring the equaliser. The Tottenham Hotspur striker nearly put England ahead with a curling effort that struck the post. With 15 minutes remaining, Bellingham was again at the heart of the action. His clever pass split the Slovakian defence, allowing Raheem Sterling to burst into the box. Sterling unselfishly squared the ball to Kane, who slotted home his second of the night and gave England a 2-1 lead. In the closing stages, Slovakia pushed for an equaliser, but England’s defence held firm. The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations at Wembley as England recorded their first victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Jude Bellingham was hailed as the man of the match for his transformative impact off the bench. The 17-year-old’s creativity, energy, and vision were instrumental in turning the tide in England’s favour. Harry Kane’s goalscoring prowess was also crucial for England. The captain’s brace not only secured the victory but also moved him to within one goal of Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goalscoring record. The victory over Slovakia has given England a much-needed boost as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures against Albania and San Marino. With Bellingham and Kane leading the charge, Gareth Southgate’s team will be confident of continuing their winning ways in the World Cup qualifiers.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane inspired England to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Slovakia in their World Cup qualifier on Friday, keeping their hopes of automatic qualification alive. Slovakia took a surprise lead in the 56th minute through Robert Mak, who capitalized on a mistake by Jordan Pickford. However, England responded with two goals in the final 15 minutes to snatch the win. Bellingham, who was making his second start for England, equalized with a powerful header from a corner in the 76th minute. Kane then completed the comeback just five minutes later, finishing off a slick move involving Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. The victory moves England to the top of Group I with 20 points from eight games, two ahead of Poland, who have a game in hand but have yet to play England away. Slovakia remain third with 10 points from seven games. England manager Gareth Southgate was delighted with the character his team showed to come from behind and win the match. “We didn’t play well in the first half but we showed great resilience to come back and win the game,” he said. “Jude Bellingham was outstanding and he gave us the impetus we needed to win the game.” Bellingham, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, was a constant threat to the Slovakian defense and his goal was just reward for his performance. “It’s a great feeling to score for your country,” he said. “I’m still young and learning but I’m delighted to have helped the team to win.” Kane’s goal was his fourth in qualifying and it takes his tally for England to 49, leaving him just one short of Wayne Rooney’s all-time record. “It’s always nice to score goals and I’m happy to have helped the team to win,” he said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game but we showed great character to come back and win.” England will now face Albania in their final qualifier on Monday, knowing that a win will secure their place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.