World Cup: Ajer hits crossbar late on as Norway lose to England | OneFootball

Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer came within inches of scoring a late Norway winner, before their memorable World Cup run ended with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England in the quarter-finals.

With the score level at 1-1 in Miami, the centre-back rose inside the box and sent a close-range header against the bar as Norway pushed for a place in the final four.

It proved to be a key moment in a tight last-eight tie, with Jude Bellingham then going on to score his second goal of the game three minutes into extra-time to send England into the semi-finals.

Norway, who had beaten Brazil in the round of 16 to set up the meeting with Thomas Tuchel’s side, took the lead after 36 minutes through Andreas Schjelderup.

The winger’s dipping effort deceived Jordan Pickford and flew into the net to give Ståle Solbakken’s side the advantage, only for England to respond in first-half stoppage time.

Bellingham latched on to Anthony Gordon’s pass before driving into the box and finishing low beyond Ørjan Nyland to make it 1-1 at the interval.

Norway thought they had restored their lead before the hour mark when Torbjørn Heggem found the net, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review after Erling Haaland was adjudged to have pushed Elliot Anderson.

Ajer then went close to putting Norway back in front, but his 76th-minute header cannoned off the crossbar as England survived another scare.

With the game still level at full-time, Bellingham delivered the decisive moment in the opening stages of extra time.

Nyland could only parry Morgan Rogers’ powerful effort, and Bellingham reacted quickest to force the ball over the line from close range.

Jordan Henderson was remarkably named among the England substitutes just days after undergoing surgery, as the Three Lions held on to reach the final four, where they will face Argentina on Wednesday 15 July (8pm kick-off BST).