Erling Haaland’s second-half double saw Norway beat Senegal 3-2 at a rain-swept MetLife Stadium as Stale Solbakken’s side joined France in qualifying for the last 32 of the World Cup.
After both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe had earlier scored twice for Argentina and France respectively, it was no surprise to see the Man City striker respond with his 58th and 59th goals for Norway in just his 52nd international game, while the in-form marksman has now registered in his last 12 competitive appearances for his country.
In fact, the 25-year-old was disappointed he did not net a hat-trick in New York in a clash that some thought might not take place at all after fans were briefly cleared from the stadium amid heavy rain around four hours before kick-off as a flood watch was issued by the US National Weather Service in the area and nearby New York.
However, the predicted torrential rain during the match stayed away, allowing Norway to record their second victory of the tournament, more than they had managed in all their previous World Cups and they now face France on Friday to determine who wins Group I.
Norway’s Marcus Holmgren Pedersen celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Senegal
Senegal, meanwhile, are going to need to rack up the goals in their final contest with Iraq if they want to join Norway and France in the knockouts.
The key moments from New York…
43 – GOAL! Sub Pedersen opens scoring after mistakes by Koulibaly and Mendy
45 – POST! Haaland hits the post another another Mendy error
48 – GOAL! Haaland rifles home into roof of the net to become Norway’s all-time leading scorer at World Cups!
53 – GOAL! Ismaila Sarr pulls one back with an excellent finish after being set up by Mane’s neat flick on the edge of the box
58 – GOAL! Haaland’s close-range finish restores Norway’s two-goal cushion
90+3 – GOAL! Ismaila Sarr’s composed finish sets up a nervy finish in East Rutherford
Anything Messi & Mbappe can do, Erling can match
You could see right from the kick-off in New Jersey on Monday night that Erling Haaland was up for this one, no doubt fired up by watching the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both make the headlines after hitting impressive doubles in their earlier group games.
Not to be outdone, the striker responded with his own eye-catching brace in the East Rutherford rain to become Norway’s all-time leading scorer at World Cups and help his side through to the knockouts, where on this type of form, no one will want to face them.
The Man City frontman appeared irritable at half-time after spurning a presentable opportunity seconds earlier when hitting the post following another terrible Edouard Mendy mistake.
But when the next chance came his way moments later, his finish was clinical, as it also was for his second just before the hour mark, meaning he has now scored at least one goal in 18 of his last 21 competitive national team games.
Not only that, but Haaland also became only the sixth player to score multiple goals in each of his first two World Cup appearances to lay down a marker to his striker rivals at the tournament.
‘Haaland’s on fire – he’s the best striker’
Norway boss Stale Solbakken:
“Well, I mean, today he [Haaland] did miss an open goal, and he could even have scored even four.
“No, I mean, he is the best striker – he is not playing for France or Argentina, he scores for Norway. He’s scored four goals now, two braces on the biggest stage.
“It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina, but we’ll try to give Erling more games, and more help also in the next games. So he’s on fire and I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.
“We haven’t started that planning [for France] yet, so now we will get back to our camp and make good restitution because we need that after a very tough game, and there will be other players who play that game.
Norway striker Erling Haaland:
“I don’t care, we are through – they’ll [France] probably beat us and go on and win the whole tournament!”
