England beat Mexico 3-2 as Quansah sent off and controversial penalties decide last-16 tie in Mexico City

What happened: England defeated Mexico 3-2 in their World Cup last-16 match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, manager and official comments and match events confirmed during the game on the day; the contest featured a red card for Jarell Quansah and two awarded penalties, leaving England to progress.

England took a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Jude Bellingham scored in successive minutes, before Julian Quinones pulled one back for Mexico just before half-time.

In the 54th minute Jarell Quansah was shown a red card after the video assistant referee reviewed a challenge on Jesus Gallardo and determined Quansah’s studs made contact, a decision explained by assistant referee Darren Cann on BBC One.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, England extended their lead when Harry Kane converted a penalty awarded after referee Alireza Faghani reviewed an incident involving Kane and Brian Gutierrez.

Mexico responded when Raul Jimenez converted a spot-kick awarded after the referee reviewed the play, setting the final score at 3-2 in England’s favor.

Former officials and pundits spoke on the decisions: Darren Cann stated the Quansah challenge warranted a red card under the laws of the game, noting studs-up contact, while Cann and Joe Hart both affirmed the penalty decisions following VAR reviews.

Joe Hart told BBC One he believed the referee reached the correct outcomes on the red card and both penalties, adding that Quansah deserved the dismissal and that Kane did not get the ball in the reviewed incident.

The match chronology saw England score twice early, Mexico reduce the deficit before half-time, a second-half red card, an England penalty converted by Kane, and a subsequent Mexican penalty converted by Jimenez, producing a tight finish at the Azteca.

The official rulings and match events determined the result and England’s advancement from the last-16 stage, with officials and former referees supporting the on-field and VAR decisions.