Erling Haaland’s late goal was sufficient to see Norway through to the Round of 16 on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eliminating the Ivory Coast in an exhilarating 2-1 match at Dallas Stadium.
The Norwegians opened the scoring within the first half earlier than Les Éléphants equalized with one of the good objectives scored to date on this event, nevertheless it was Haaland who seized the second with the essential closing goal.
After lengthy intervals in their very own half to begin the match, Norway broke the impasse with a strike from Antonio Nusa that curled into the far nook. The Thirty ninth-minute goal was towards the run of play because the Norwegians had largely been chasing the sport for many of the opening half hour earlier than beginning to come into the match extra simply earlier than Nusa’s effort.
Minutes later, Haaland almost doubled the Norwegian benefit on a close-range shot that was blocked, leading to a nook that the imposing striker simply failed to get on the tip of.
Norway took the 1-0 lead into halftime, having carried a lot of the play following the goal and feeling on prime of the sport.
The second half started huge open, with each groups having nice alternatives to rating subsequent. The greatest alternative got here on one other Norwegian nook kick when Torbjørn Heggem’s close-range shot regarded destined for the again of the online earlier than being blocked off the road by Ivory Coast midfielder Amad Diallo.
At the second-half hydration break, the Norwegians made some defensive-minded subs to attempt to see the sport out. It didn’t fairly work out because the Ivory Coast equalized solely minutes later through a mazy run and sophistication end by Diallo.
The Manchester United participant ran a fast give-and-go with Nicolas Pépé, taking the brief return move after which dribbling through the Norwegian protection. Diallo took a left-footed shot that slammed into the turf and popped up over Ørjan Nyland and into the again of the online.
But within the closing minutes, it was as soon as once more the seemingly inevitable Haaland goal that put Norway forward.
The transfer got here down the Norwegian proper, as Patrick Berg was fed in with an beautiful through ball. Berg crossed into the center of the field to Haaland, who had an open internet to shoot at. He took a tender contact – it nearly appeared to be an try to management the ball that received away from him – and the ball scooted over the road to give Norway a 2-1 lead within the 86th minute.
Haaland now has 5 objectives scored at this event.
The Ivory Coast had late alternatives, placing stress on Norway as they tried to pressure half-hour of further time, together with an unimaginable save by Nyland off a Diallo free kick within the closing minutes.
Norway goes on to play five-time World Cup champion Brazil on July 5.