England Edge Norway 2-1 In Extra Time To Reach World Cup Last Four

Bellingham breaks Norwegian hearts as England advance to World Cup Semis 

Jude Bellingham scored twice including an extra-time winner as England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 AET and reach their first World Cup semi-final outside Europe.

Bellingham’s brace sends England past Norway in extra time and into the World Cup semi-finals...

 

England came from behind to defeat Norway 2-1 after extra time, reaching their first World Cup semi-final held outside Europe. The result ended Norway’s best run at a major tournament and booked England a last-four tie against either Argentina or Switzerland.

The heat in Miami didn’t spark much attacking football from either side. England dominated possession and finally had the first shot in the 19th minute, when Jude Bellingham headed an Elliot Anderson cross wide.

That encouraged England to send more crosses into Norway’s box. When Noni Madueke whipped an overhit ball from Nico O’Reilly back across, O’Reilly couldn’t react fast enough to turn it toward goal.

The first cooling break didn’t help Norway settle into their first major quarter-final. They gave away a free-kick on the edge of their box, which Harry Kane smashed over the bar.

But Julian Ryerson’s cross found Erling Haaland and his header was saved by Jordan Pickford - a warning for England. A minute later Stale Solbakken’s team led, as Andreas Schjelderup’s cross sailed over Pickford and into the goal.

Buoyed by the goal, Norway pushed for a second. Alexander Sorloth headed wide and Martin Odegaard forced a near-post save from Pickford. They were made to pay in stoppage time though - Anthony Gordon slid the ball into Bellingham’s path, and he drove into the box to finish his fifth goal of the tournament past Orjan Nyland.

Jordan Pickford made his 18th World Cup appearance to set an England record, but it was a nervy start to the second half. He had to scramble to keep out chances from Sorloth and Haaland, and England got lucky when Torbjorn Heggem’s header from a corner was ruled out on review for Haaland’s push on Elliot Anderson.

Both managers turned to their benches at the second cooling break in search of a winner, but Norway’s corners remained the biggest threat. With 14 minutes left, Kristoffer Ajer crashed a header against the crossbar.

After weathering sustained Norwegian pressure, England looked stronger as the 90 minutes ended. Bukayo Saka’s dangerous cross was cleared by Fredrik Aursnes, and Djed Spence blocked a Nyland clearance but sent it wide. The match went to extra time.

England, winners in 1966, had the energy for extra time. Harry Kane forced Nyland into a good header save, but the keeper couldn’t hold a speculative Morgan Rogers strike and spilled it. Jude Bellingham was there to pounce and fire England ahead.

VAR bailed Norway out by overturning an England penalty after Djed Spence was first ruled to have been fouled. The setback was compounded midway through extra time when Erling Haaland went off with a suspected injury.

Patrick Berg drilled a shot just over to show Norway were still dangerous, and Orjan Nyland kept them in it with a brilliant double save from Spence and then Saka.

England dug in with another resilient defensive effort to see it out. It was only their second win in their last seven World Cup knockout games against European opposition. The result takes them to just their fourth World Cup semi-final ever, and brings Norway’s excellent tournament run to an end.