World Cup: Ajer’s Norway seal knockout place with Senegal victory | OneFootball

Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer impressed as Norway booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Senegal.

The centre-back played the full 90 minutes in New Jersey.

The first chance of the game fell to Ajer. Julian Ryerson whipped in a corner and the defender’s thumping header was brilliantly kept out by Édouard Mendy.

Marcus Pedersen capitalised on a loose clearance from Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly to give Norway a late first-half lead.

Erling Haaland then doubled the advantage three minutes after the restart, racing on to Martin Ødegaard’s through ball before finishing clinically.

Ismaïla Sarr reduced the deficit for Senegal, but Haaland restored Norway’s two-goal cushion five minutes later with a composed side-foot volley that clipped the crossbar on its way in.

Sarr struck again in stoppage-time to set up a tense finish and Senegal came close to forcing an equaliser in the closing moments, but Norway held firm.

Ståle Solbakken’s side were deserved winners and secured qualification from Group I alongside France with a second consecutive World Cup victory.