Norway 3-2 Senegal: Haaland brace bags spot in last 32 of the World Cup | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Standings provided bySofascore

Erling Haaland became Norway’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer as his brace inspired them to a 3-2 win over Senegal to earn passage into the round of 32 and leave the African side with it all to do in their final match in Group I.

Early substitute Morgan Pedersen put the Scandinavians in front with minutes remaining in the first half after Haaland hit the post having dispossessed Edouard Mendy, but the forward would find the top right corner moments after half-time.

Ismaila Sarr halved the deficit before Haaland then restored the two-goal advantage with his fourth of the tournament, with the Crystal Palace winger’s 93rd-minute strike not enough to better Senegal’s chances of progressing if they finish third in the group.

As it happened

The high stakes encounter at the MetLife Stadium got off to a slow start with Norway’s Julian Ryeson leaving the pitch after just 10 minutes clutching his hamstring, to then see Martin Odegaard drift into the penalty area and lift a first-time effort over the top.

Former Chelsea striker showed excellent control to get a high ball over the top under his spell but his shot was well blocked, before then curling an effort from 25 yards out wide of goal.

Edouard Mendy was called into action to keep the score level, leaping off his line and smothering Odegaard’s powerful half-volley once the ball fell kindly to him courtesy of Haaland’s cushioned header.

Norway found the breakthrough they deserved through the man that replaced the injured Ryeson, when Kalidou Koulibaly made a mess cutting out a through ball from Odegaard and sending it into the path of an onrushing Pedersen.

The 25-year-old right back burst into the penalty area unchallenged and his shot squirmed under Mendy and into the net for just the sixth goal of his professional career.

Haaland was visibly frustrated to not have seen much of an opening, and was presented the golden chance to write his name into Norwegian history when Mendy got his feet in a tangle and conceded possession yards from goal.

But the towering striker side-footed it onto the post from the tight angle, slamming the turf in frustration.

It would take Haaland just three minutes to grab his goal after the restart, running onto an incisive pass splitting Senegal’s defence in two by the usual suspect Odegaard and executing a brilliant finish that found the top corner.

Senegal shortly found a way back into the game as a good switch from defence picked out Sadio Mané in space, working it centrally and then into the path of Sarr bearing down on goal.

The Crystal Palace winger beat the the last defender for strength and lifted the shot over a sprawling Ørjan Nyland to halve the deficit at just the right time in the contest.

What bearing it might have had on the game was then vanquished by Haaland, who profited on Senegal refusing to clear Pedersen’s cross from the right and Patrick Berg’s hunger to be first to the loose ball inside the penalty area.

He instinctively steered home the follow up delivery past Mendy with the side of his boot, re-establishing the two-goal advantage and put Norway on the path to reaching the round of 32.

Haaland’s brace hauled him two clear of previous leading scorer Kjetil Rekdal’s two goals scored across the 1994 and 1998 World Cup tournaments, and his 59th in a Norway shirt overall.

Senegal refused to make it smooth sailing for Ståle Solbakken’s side in the closing stages and a dangerous cross from the left wing found the feet of Jackson, who shifted it to Sarr for the winger to curl it past Nyland and make it a nervy finish.

The thoroughly competitive clash was brought to a close after Norway clung on for the nine minutes of stoppage time to slam the door shut and qualify for the round of 32 and justify their title of World Cup dark horses.

Norway’s deserved victory renders their meeting with favourites France on Thursday a dead rubber, with both teams now safely through, while Senegal must strive for nothing else than a win against Iraq, else their World Cup campaign could be over.

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Norway – Senegal Live Score