Haaland brace sends Norway into World Cup last 32 with 3-2 win over Senegal
Erling Haaland scored his second consecutive brace as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 to seal a place in the World Cup round of 32, their first appearance in the tournament in 28 years.
Match action
Norway took the lead just before half-time when substitute Marcus Pedersen capitalised on a defensive error by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly. The right-back, who had replaced the injured Julian Ryerson early on, fired past Édouard Mendy to make it 1-0. Senegal had started brightly but struggled to create clear chances, with Sadio Mané and Ismaïla Sarr unable to find the final pass.
Haaland's impact
Erling Haaland doubled the advantage three minutes after the restart, latching onto a through ball from Martin Ødegaard and smashing a shot into the top corner. Ten minutes later he struck again, a volley that went in off the crossbar, to put Norway 3-1 up. The Manchester City forward now has four goals in two matches, matching the brace-filled starts of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé earlier in the tournament.
- Marcus Pedersen puts Norway 1-0 up after a Koulibaly error
- Haaland scores his first, assisted by Ødegaard
- Ismaïla Sarr pulls one back for Senegal
- Haaland volleys in his second to make it 3-1
- Sarr scores again in stoppage time, but Norway hold on
Senegal's fightback
Ismaïla Sarr pulled one back for Senegal in the 53rd minute and then scored again deep into stoppage time, but the African champions could not find an equaliser. A late header from Moussa Niakhaté nearly levelled the match, but Norway held on. Senegal's defence, led by the 35-year-old Koulibaly, struggled to contain Haaland's movement and physicality throughout.
Group I standings
With six points from two games, Norway join France at the top of Group I. France beat Iraq 3-0 earlier, meaning both European sides are already through to the round of 32. Senegal and Iraq have zero points and must win their final matches to have any chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams. Norway face France on Friday to decide the group winner; a draw favours the French due to their superior goal difference.
- Norway
- 6 points
- France
- 6 points
- Senegal
- 0 points
- Iraq
- 0 points
Off-field notes
The match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was played in humid conditions and dominated by Norway's red-clad supporters, who have popularised a Viking rowing chant. Senegal's fan presence was limited by US visa restrictions.
Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, currently without a club as his Sevilla contract expires on 30 June, kept his place but has yet to keep a clean sheet in the tournament.The World Cup is not the same without them, and we are without our twelfth player.
