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Kane's 91st-minute header earns England hard-fought win over Tunisia

Matthias Hangst / Getty Images Sport / Getty

England was beginning to rue missing a host of early chances in Volgograd when Harry Kane headed home unmarked at the back post to claim a 2-1 victory at Tunisia's expense.

A poacher's effort from Kane was all England had to show for its dominance in the opening moments of Monday's game, allowing the Eagles of Carthage's Ferjani Sassi to equalise from the penalty spot on 35 minutes. Tunisia's players dropped deeper in the second half, and England found it difficult to breach their compact lines until Kane nodded in a dramatic 91st-minute winner.

Kane's second was the first time England scored two or more goals in the opening game of a World Cup since 1998 - another meeting with Tunisia.

England started in the ascendancy, with Mouez Hassen dangling out a leg to athletically deny Jesse Lingard from close range, and Raheem Sterling scuffing a gilt-edged opportunity before his blushes were partially spared by Lingard straying offside before playing the ball across. When Kane scored, mopping up after Hassen superbly denied John Stones' header, it was deserved.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Gareth Southgate's side was on top, with Dele Alli, Sterling, and Lingard combining well behind Kane. There was a warning sign when Harry Maguire - who stood out all match with his aerial prowess and ease in possession - was robbed of the ball, but Tunisia's leveller was still against the run of play. Kyle Walker's flailing left arm caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, giving Sassi a chance to score from 12 yards. Sassi's penalty was well-struck and ended up in the bottom corner despite making contact with Jordan Pickford's fingers.

As the second half wore on, worries grew for Three Lions fans. England found it tough to carve out chances, and Tunisia's grappling in the penalty area went undetected by both referee Wilmar Roldan and his assistants around the pitch and in the video booth.

The match was getting flat and needed a spark, and the introductions of Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek - for Sterling and Alli, respectively - didn't seem to provide one.

But a winner did eventually come. Kieran Trippier took the corner, and Maguire's successful aerial duel squirted the ball in Kane's direction. He easily headed past substitute 'keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha, making him the first player to score past two different shot-stoppers in the same World Cup match since Uruguayan legend Diego Forlan against South Africa in 2010.

England should now have an easier test with Panama on Sunday, while Tunisia may have to pick up a full complement of points Saturday against Belgium to maintain hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.

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