Erling Haaland kept up his impressive scoring run at the World Cup, netting a brace in just his second match of the tournament. His contributions led Norway to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal, securing their spot in the knockout stage.
With this performance, Haaland is helping to elevate Norway’s status as potential dark horses, marking their first appearance in a knockout game in 28 years.
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The upcoming clash with Kylian Mbappe and France is poised to be an epic showdown between two of football’s most prolific strikers, as both compete for supremacy in Group I. Haaland now sits on four goals this tournament, tied with Mbappe, while they trail behind Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot after Messi’s remarkable display against Austria.
Focused on Group I, Norway knows they must win their upcoming match in Boston, and Haaland’s recent prowess indicates that France could be in for a challenge following his brace against Senegal on a rainy night in New Jersey.
The match had similarities to Senegal’s previous game against France, with the African side starting strong and keeping Haaland largely quiet during the opening stages.
However, as halftime approached, Norway found their stride. The opening goal for Norway came from substitute Marcus Pedersen, who capitalized on a defensive mistake by Senegal’s captain, Kalidou Koulibaly. The misjudged clearance allowed Pedersen’s effort to slip past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
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Norway quickly added a second shortly after halftime, with Martin Ødegaard providing a classic assist, setting up Haaland to hammer the ball into the net. Just ten minutes later, Haaland struck again, volleying the ball from the crossbar.
Despite numerous defensive lapses, Senegal posed a threat on counter-attacks, with Ismaila Sarr scoring two goals, including one during stoppage time, but it was insufficient for the win.
Erling Haaland celebrates scoring against Senegal at the World Cup (AP)
With France defeating Iraq 3-0, Group I has now seen two teams officially advance to the knockout phase, with Senegal hoping to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
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Norway and France will go head-to-head in their final group match on Friday. The jubilant Norwegian players capped off their victory with a “Viking row” in front of their celebrating fans. The stadium was filled with the vibrant red jerseys of Norway, who have been delighting New York audiences with their energetic celebrations. Due to visa restrictions, the number of Senegalese fans in attendance was notably low.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier in the day caused travel disruptions and temporarily halted the other Group I match being played in Philadelphia. Many fans who attended did so in ponchos, although the weather improved as the game got underway.
Reuters contributed to this report