England left it late to get their World Cup off to a winning start against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday.

Harry Kane’s brace cancelled out Ferjani Sassi’s penalty, leaving Gareth Southgate’s side level on points with Belgium in Group G.

England went close to opening the scoring after just two minutes when Dele Alli latched onto a superb pass over the top from Jordan Henderson. The Tottenham Hotspur man pulled the ball back for Jesse Lingard, who forced a tremendous save from Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen with his feet.

And the Three Lions had another brilliant chance to break the deadlock two minutes later, but Raheem Sterling somehow only managed to turn Lingard’s cross wide of the far post with the goal gaping.

But Southgate’s side did make their dominance count when Kane found the net in the 11th minute. John Stones forced another incredible stop from Hassen with a header from an Ashley Young corner, but the England skipper was on hand to tap home the rebound for what was his first ever goal at a senior international tournament.

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Sadly for Hassen, his night ended prematurely when he was forced off moments later with a shoulder injury sustained in an earlier clash with Lingard. Farouk Ben Mustapha came on in his place.

Tunisia responded well to going behind and Sassi would have tested Jordan Pickford with a shot from range in the 21st minute were it not for a crucial touch from Harry Maguire to divert the ball wide.

And in the 34th minute, Tunisia were handed a huge lifeline when Kyle Walker caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef with a flailing arm in the box and Colombian referee Roldan Wilmar pointed to the penalty spot.

Sassi stepped up and cooly slotted the ball low to Pickford’s right to make it 1-1.

Kane then had a penalty appeal waved away and Stones and Lingard – whose effort clipped the outside of the post – both had chances to restore England’s lead but the two sides went in level at half-time.

Six minutes into the second half, England were appealing for another spot-kick when Kane was hauled down in the box following a corner but their pleas again fell on deaf ears.

Marcus Rashford replaced the ineffective Sterling 23 minutes from time and Kieran Trippier went close with a 30-year free-kick which drifted just wide of the post.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek then came on for Alli – who appeared to be struggling with a slight injury – in the 80th minute.

And then, in stoppage time, Maguire flicked a corner on and Kane was in the perfect place at the back post to head home the winner. It is the first time in World Cup history England have scored an added time winner, and 2-1 was how it finished.

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England’s next game sees them face Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, while Tunisia are up against Belgium in Moscow on Saturday.