WATCH: Harry Kane’s Two Goals, Late Header Give England Win vs. Tunisia
England's new-look, younger squad started its 2018 World Cup with some positive momentum after a dramatic winner from Harry Kane in Volgograd, Russia, on Monday.
Kane, England's youngest World Cup captain ever at 24, scored his second goal of the day in stoppage time, lifting England to a 2-1 win. Kane scored the opener early, only for England to concede a needless penalty that allowed Farjani Sassi to equalize from the spot. A cagey second half followed, before England tilted the scales late on with the fourth stoppage-time goal scored thus far at this World Cup.
England nearly scored in the opening minutes, beating Tunisia's high line over the top with a direct ball from the back. After a sloppy attempt to clear out of the back, the ball eventually fell for Jesse Lingard, whose clean look from the center of the box was denied by a kick save from goalkeeper Moez Hassen.
The goalkeeper was called into action again on the ensuing sequence, launching himself to his right to deny a ball earmarked for the upper 90.
England maintained its pressure, and it got its deserved goal in the 11th minute. Off an Ashley Young corner kick, John Stones powered a header forward that Hassen pawed out of the goal. He put the rebound right on a platter for Kane, though, and the Tottenham striker didn't miss from close range, giving England a 1-0 lead.
Things got worse for Tunisia, when Hassen had to exit with an apparent shoulder injury, suffered on a play earlier in the match. He was replaced by backup Farouk Ben Mustapha in the 15th minute.
England maintained control over the match but gifted Tunisia the opportunity to pull level in the 33rd minute. Kyle Walker delivered a needless elbow to the face of his mark, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, in the box, and he was whistled for the penalty. Sassi stepped up to the spot and converted, despite Jordan Pickford guessing correctly, giving Tunisia a shocking equalizer.
Stone whiffed on a golden chance to re-take the lead for England, with Ben Mustapha out of position as Tunisia looked to clear from its own goal line after a hectic scramble. The ball fall to Stones, but he mishit his shot, and Tunisia ultimate emerged unscathed.
England almost struck again, with Lingard beating an on-rushing Ben Mustapha to a ball over the top on the right channel, only for his touch to trickle off the outside of the right post in the 45th minute.
The teams played a more cagey second half, with England unable to fully break down Tunisia's rearguard. In the 69th minute, Kieran Trippier had a chance to put England ahead off a free kick, but he put his powerful effort wide of the left post.
When it appeared that the teams were set to settle for a point apiece, Kane struck again.
England won a corner kick in stoppage time, and Harry Maguire's header forward found the unmarked captain by the far post, where he directed his header into the net for the go-ahead strike.
Here were the lineups for both teams:
Here are the rosters for both sides
TUNISIA
Goalkeepers: Farouk Ben Mustapha (Al Shabab), Moez Hassen (Chateauroux), Aymen Mathlouthi (Al Baten)
Defenders: Rami Bedoui (Etoile du Sahel), Yohan Benalouane (Leicester City), Syam Ben Youssef (Kasimpasa), Dylan Bronn (Gent), Oussama Haddadi (Dijon), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yassine Meriah (CS Sfaxien), Hamdi Nagguez (Zamalek)
Midfielders: Anice Badri (Esperance), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahli Riyadh), Ghaylene Chaalali (Esperance), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Saifeddine Khaoui (Troyes), Ferjani Sassi (Al Nasr), Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier), Naim Sliti (Dijon), Bassem Srarfi (Nice)
Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Al Ittifaq), Saber Khalifa (Club Africain), Wahbi Khazri (Rennes)
Manager: Nabil Maaloul
ENGLAND
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jones (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Manager: Gareth Southgate