World Cup: Ex-BVB man Bellingham and Bayern's Kane guide England to Group L summit

Ex-BVB star Jude Bellingham opened the scoring before Bayern Munich's Harry Kane made sure of a 2-0 victory for the Three Lions over Panama.

Photo: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images.

In showery conditions at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, England battled their way to a 2-0 win over Panama this evening. Claiming all three points also ensured Thomas Tuchel's men finish top of Group L, with their Central American opponents left rock bottom.

Marcus Rashford, starting in place of Anthony Gordon on the left flank, posed a serious threat from the get-go. Orlando Mosquera had to have his wits about him to push the winger's dipping strike around the post and behind for the game's first corner. 

Patience would be the name of the game for the Three Lions as an already-eliminated Panama remained defensively stout to keep Bukayo Saka at bay. After the hydration break, Jose Luis Rodriguez stung the palms of Jordan Pickford on a rare foray upfield. 

Barring a header guided over the bar and a free-kick which dipped to the right of the post – both from Rashford – it was a rather dull first-half. Upon the restart, Panama almost bundled the ball into their own net, while Harry Kane got his first real sight of goal. 

Pressure was starting to build and the net eventually bulged just past the hour. A corner from Saka fell to ex-Dortmund maestro Jude Bellingham flicking in at the near post. The midfielder would turn provider five minutes later, enabling Bayern's Kane to head home. 

With an eye on the next stage of the tournament, Tuchel rang the changes to close out the game. One of those departing was Kane for Ollie Watkins – the Bayerb man netting his eleventh World Cup goal to overtake Gary Lineker in the Three Lions' history books.