NEW JERSEY, United States
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup with victory over Senegal in New Jersey.
After just two games in the competition, the Manchester City striker has now scored twice as many goals (four) as any other Norway player in World Cup history.
Full-back Marcus Pederson, on as an early substitute, capitalised on a poor clearance from Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly to put Norway 1-0 up late in the first half - before Haaland took over in the second.
He raced on to Martin Odegaard's incisive through ball to double the lead in the 48th minute - becoming Norway's all-time top scorer at World Cups in the process - before Ismaila Sarr pulled a goal back to give Senegal hope.
But Haaland restored his team's two-goal cushion five minutes later with a calmly taken side-foot volley which went in off the bar.
Haaland has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway, registering at least two goals in each of the past six.
Sarr struck again in injury time to set up a nervy finale and the Crystal Palace winger could have equalised in the final seconds but put his header over the bar.
However, Stale Solbakken's Norway had been much the better side, even in a somewhat scrappy first half, and held on for a second straight win that means they have qualified from Group I alongside France.
Senegal must beat Iraq in their last group game to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.
No comments:
Post a Comment