Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner to ship Norway to a dramatic 2-1 win over Ivory Coast – and arrange a mouth-watering World Cup last-16 conflict with Brazil.
With a tense round-of-32 recreation heading in direction of extra-time, Norway’s important man stepped as much as faucet in Sander Berge’s cross and earn Norway their first World Cup knockout-stage win.
Earlier than that, it was a recreation of good targets. A lot of the speak this summer time has been about Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande nevertheless it was his RB Leipzig team-mate Antonio Nusa who stole the limelight in Dallas.
Nusa’s curling effort put Norway in entrance towards the run of play. The second half was higher from Ivory Coast – because it became the Amad Diallo present.
The Manchester United winger got here off the bench to cease Torbjorn Heggem from doubling Norway’s lead by clearing off the road. Seven minutes later, he crashed in a shocking solo purpose to present the African facet hope on their World Cup knockout debut.
However Haaland, as he at all times does, had the final snigger. Now he is Brazil’s drawback!
Haaland and his Norway team-mates have fun his winner
The important thing moments from Dallas…
- 21: Ivory Coast left-back Ghislain Konan crashes a very good likelihood into the side-netting because the African facet dominate.
- 22: The primary water comes and Haaland has touched the ball simply as soon as – a second-minute innocent header at purpose.
- 39: GOAL! Norway strike towards the run of play as Nusa curls an impressive strike into the highest nook.
- 42: Haaland sees a giant close-range likelihood blocked, whereas he can’t convert on the far submit from the ensuing nook.
- 55: Nicolas Pepe sees a low drive from contained in the field expertly saved on the close to submit.
- 67: Heggem meets Martin Odegaard’s nook however Amad by some means clears the volley off the road.
- 75: GOAL! Amad then dazzles on the different finish as he jinks previous a number of gamers earlier than crashing in an equaliser.
- 86: GOAL! Haaland faucets house a late winner, after Oscar Bobb arrange Berge for a pleasant cross.
- 90+6: Amad almost has a second however his free-kick is stopped from going within the high nook by Orjan Nyland.
Evaluation: Haaland exhibits he’s elite degree in world soccer
Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Norway’s winner
Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:
This was a recreation that proved the significance of getting an elite-level striker.
Ivory Coast had been pretty dominant from begin to end. Fourteen photographs, the Anticipated Objectives tally says they need to have scored twice. General, they missed 1.75 price of xG.
If solely that they had Haaland of their crew to complete all these probabilities.
Norway’s important man up entrance had a very gradual begin to the sport. He solely had three touches within the first half – one after two minutes and the opposite two had been in his personal field.
He didn’t have a second-half shot till his purpose. However when you’ve gotten the world’s finest striker within the crew, you at all times have an opportunity.
With targets in his first three World Cup video games, Haaland has confirmed he’s the elite of the elite – at each degree of the sport.
Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande pale as the sport went on
Plenty of the speak this summer time has been about Diomande and his wonderful kind this season. He is likely one of the high younger wingers on the planet, however he pale in direction of the top of this recreation.
Haaland is the extent. Regardless of what number of touches he has, or how concerned he’s – he’s at all times able to bringing down anybody. And that should scare the life out of Brazil. What a recreation that will probably be on Sunday.
