Erling Haaland scored a late winner for Norway, securing their place in the last-16 of the World Cup against Brazil. The Manchester City striker’s goal in the 86th minute sealed a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast in Texas. This marks the first time Norway has won a knockout game in the competition’s history.
The match, held in the air-conditioned Dallas Cowboys stadium, saw an even first half. Antonio Nusa opened the scoring for Norway six minutes before halftime with a notable goal. Nusa, fed by captain Martin Odegaard, cut inside and bent the ball into the top corner past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
The Ivory Coast, making their first appearance in the knockout rounds, introduced Manchester United’s Amad Diallo after an hour. Diallo quickly made an impact, first blocking a potential second goal for Norway and then scoring a spectacular equaliser in the 74th minute. His goal came after a sharp one-two with Nicolas Pépé, allowing him to dance past defenders and bounce a finish past Ørjan Nyland.
Haaland’s Decisive Strike
With extra time appearing likely, Haaland connected with a cross from Patrick Berg to score the decisive goal. This was Haaland’s fifth goal of the tournament. The goal broke the hearts of the Ivorian team and their supporters.
Norway’s coach, Ståle Solbakken, had rested most of his team in their final group game against France, a decision that drew criticism. However, the team’s progression to the last-16 has justified his strategy.
The Ivory Coast had also shown promise, with Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old winger, being a creative force. Diomande is reportedly linked with a transfer from RB Leipzig to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Despite their efforts, including a well-struck free kick from Diallo in the final moments, Nyland made a crucial save to secure Norway’s win.
Looking Ahead to Brazil
The victory sets up a last-16 encounter for Norway against five-time champions Brazil. The match is scheduled for Sunday in New Jersey, with a spot in the quarter-finals at stake. The winner of the Ivory Coast vs Norway match was slated to face Brazil, who secured a late victory against Japan on Monday.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Ivory Coast and Norway. Norway has a strong record against African nations, having lost only two of their 19 contests across all competitions. Opta’s supercomputer had predicted a 56.1 percent probability of Norway winning in regulation time, with Ivory Coast having a 21.6 percent chance.
Norway finished second in Group I with six points, behind France, after a 4-1 win over Iraq, a 3-2 win over Senegal, and a 4-1 defeat to France. Ivory Coast finished second in Group E with six points, behind Germany, with a 1-0 win over Ecuador, a 2-1 defeat to Germany, and a 2-0 win over Curacao.
Haaland has been a key player for Norway, scoring four goals in two games, having been rested for their final group match against France. Odegaard has also contributed significantly, providing two assists.
The match was played on Tuesday, June 30.
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Source: dawn.com
