“First Time Ever” — Haaland Fires Norway Into World Cup Last 32
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen scored his first international goal after a Koulibaly error, Haaland added two more, and Norway booked their knockout place despite Sarr’s stoppage-time strike.
Haaland double helps Norway beat Senegal 3-2 and reach World Cup knockouts...
Norway made history by winning back-to-back games at a major tournament for the first time, edging Senegal 3-2 to book their place in the World Cup Round of 32.
Fresh off tearing Iraq apart 4-1, Norway knew victory would send them through. Stale Solbakken’s side started fast again, winning a record four corners in the first four minutes.
One of those corners set up Kristoffer Ajer perfectly. He rose unmarked and directed his header on target, but Edouard Mendy pulled off a brilliant stop on the line with his legs.
Norway’s momentum took a hit before the 15-minute mark when Julian Ryerson went off injured. His replacement Marcus Holmgren Pedersen nearly made an instant impact though, sliding a cutback to Martin Odegaard who blasted his shot over.
Senegal settled after the water break and started to threaten. Sadio Mané found Nicolas Jackson in the area, but he skewed his shot well over the bar. Just when it looked like the first half would end 0-0, Norway were handed the lead.
Kalidou Koulibaly gave the ball away needlessly to Pedersen just outside the area, and the first-half sub smashed his shot in off Mendy for only the sixth club goal of his career and his first for Norway. Haaland almost doubled the lead before halftime too, robbing Mendy in the box, but his effort crashed off the post from a tight angle.
Haaland got his goal three minutes after the restart thanks to a quick Norway break started by Odegaard.
The captain threaded a pass through for the Man City striker, and Haaland finished clinically, rifling his shot into the top-right corner. Senegal hit back fast though, cutting the deficit within five minutes. A slick passing move ended with Ismaïla Sarr meeting Mané’s flick and smashing it into the roof of the net.
Norway hit back five minutes later to make it 3-1 as Haaland converted Patrick Berg’s cross, keeping him level with Kylian Mbappé on four goals and just one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
After that 10-minute flurry of three goals, Norway were happy to drop off and let Senegal chase the game. Sarr did pull one back with another tidy finish in stoppage time, but it came too late to save the Lions of Teranga.
Norway have now equaled their total wins from all previous World Cups combined. They’ll face France in the final group game with top spot in Group I on the line. Senegal are still on zero points, but a win over Iraq in Toronto on Friday could still sneak them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
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