(Online Sports Desk)
Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner to send Norway to a dramatic 2-1 win over Ivory Coast – and set up a mouth-watering World Cup last-16 clash with Brazil.
With a tense round-of-32 game heading towards extra-time, Norway’s main man stepped up to tap in Sander Berge’s cross and earn Norway their first World Cup knockout-stage win.
Before that, it was a game of brilliant goals. Much of the talk this summer has been about Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande but it was his RB Leipzig team-mate Antonio Nusa who stole the limelight in Dallas.
Nusa’s curling effort put Norway in front against the run of play. The second half was better from Ivory Coast – as it turned into the Amad Diallo show.
The Manchester United winger came off the bench to stop Torbjorn Heggem from doubling Norway’s lead by clearing off the line. Seven minutes later, he crashed in a stunning solo goal to give the African side hope on their World Cup knockout debut.
But Haaland, as he always does, had the last laugh. Now he’s Brazil’s – and old foe Gabriel’s – problem!
This was a game that proved the importance of having an elite-level striker.
Ivory Coast were fairly dominant from start to finish. Fourteen shots, the Expected Goals tally says they should have scored twice. Overall, they missed 1.75 worth of xG.
If only they had Haaland in their team to finish all those chances.
Norway’s main man up front had a really slow start to the game. He only had three touches in the first half – one after two minutes and the other two were in his own box.
He did not have a second-half shot until his goal. But when you have the world’s best striker in the team, you always have a chance.
With goals in his first three World Cup games, Haaland has proven he is the elite of the elite – at every level of the game.
A lot of the talk this summer has been about Diomande and his excellent form this season. He is one of the top young wingers in the world, but he faded towards the end of this game.
Haaland is the level. No matter how many touches he has, or how involved he is – he is always capable of bringing down anyone. And that must scare the life out of Brazil. What a game that will be on Sunday.
Haaland will be reunited with fierce rival Gabriel in the World Cup with Brazil set to take on Norway in the last 16 on Sunday.
The Man City striker and the Arsenal defender have battled at the top of the Premier League for the past few years.
The highlights of their rivalry include Haaland chucking a ball at Gabriel’s head after Man City equalised late on against Arsenal in September 2024.
The return fixture in the 2024/25 season saw Gabriel celebrate in Haaland’s face as Arsenal beat City 5-1.
Their last meeting in April of this year saw Gabriel avoid a red card for an attempted headbutt on Haaland.
The Man City striker chose not to go to ground after the contact with Gabriel – who was not sent off and played a big part in Arsenal beating City to the title.
What will happen next as this rivalry enters new ground at the world’s biggest international tournament?
