Bellingham double sinks Norway in extra time as England reach World Cup semi-finals in Miami
Jude Bellingham scored twice, including an extra-time winner, as England beat Norway 2-1 in a tense, controversy-tinged World Cup quarter-final in Miami. Erling Haaland's Norway led through an Andreas Schjelderup strike before Bellingham levelled late in the first half and struck again in the 30 added minutes.
England reached the World Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway at a stifling Miami stadium, with Jude Bellingham delivering both goals to break Scandinavian resistance. The Real Madrid midfielder now has six goals in the tournament, level with Harry Kane, and carried Thomas Tuchel's side through another nervy knockout evening.
Norway's tactical discipline and the opening goal
Norway set up in two compact lines across roughly 40 metres, denying England the space they had exploited against Mexico earlier in the tournament. Ståle Solbakken's side absorbed possession comfortably for the first hour, with England moving the ball safely but without penetration. Only Bellingham and Anthony Gordon offered any off-the-ball movement. The first hydration break arrived with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
The game changed when Norway began pressing higher. A heavy John Stones error in possession almost let Haaland in, and the warning was not heeded. In the 32nd minute, Haaland headed softly at Jordan Pickford for Norway's first attempt. Moments later, Andreas Schjelderup cut inside from the left and struck a left-footed effort that curled past Pickford into the far top corner, silencing the English support. Whether the Benfica winger intended a cross or a shot remained ambiguous, but the 1-0 lead was real.
Imposible saber de qué color llevaban los guantes ni Nyland ni Pickford, pues las oportunidades de gol habían decidido no madrugar.
Norway could have extended their lead. Alexander Sørloth volleyed over from inside the box, Martin Ødegaard tested Pickford from distance, and Sørloth then wasted a two-on-one counter with Haaland free. England were on the ropes.
Bellingham levels before the break
Just before half-time, Bellingham took control. Receiving a pass from Gordon on the edge of the area, he drove past his marker and finished left-footed past Ørjan Nyland. The goal shifted momentum and gave England a foothold they had lacked for 40 minutes.
Bellingham decidió asumir en sus hombros el destino de su país.
Controversy and the extra-time decider
The second half produced no further goals, but it generated the match's most disputed moment. A Norwegian goal was disallowed for a push by Haaland in the build-up. Later, the English equaliser's origin became the subject of heated debate: a long clearance by Nyland allegedly struck the cable of an overhead camera, causing the ball to drop vertically to an England player. FIFA denied the incident, citing the ball's internal chip data, but the sequence fed the evening's sense of grievance.
Extra time brought resolution. Bellingham, operating with attacking freedom, struck his second goal to make it 2-1. Norway, who had lost Haaland to exhaustion before the end, could not respond. England held on to book a semi-final place, 60 years on from their only World Cup triumph.
- No clear chances; England dominate sterile possession; first hydration break taken.
- Haaland heads softly at Pickford for Norway's first attempt.
- Schjelderup curls a left-footed shot into the top corner to give Norway a 1-0 lead.
- Sørloth misses two chances and squanders a two-on-one counter; Ødegaard tests Pickford.
- Bellingham receives from Gordon, drives forward and finishes left-footed to equalise 1-1.
- Norwegian goal disallowed for a Haaland push; FIFA denies camera-cable contact in build-up to England's equaliser.
- Bellingham scores his second goal; Haaland substituted through exhaustion; England win 2-1.
What comes next
England advance to the semi-finals still reliant on Bellingham's intervention in moments of crisis. Norway exit with a performance that drew widespread respect, but also with lingering questions over the officiating of Clément Turpin and their inability to convert clear second-half chances. The tournament continues without Haaland, whose quest for a first World Cup knockout goal will wait another four years.
