Erling Haaland scored four minutes from time to give Norway a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Tuesday, sending the Scandinavians into the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in 28 years. Brazil await in New York on Sunday.
It was Haaland’s fifth goal of the tournament and the decisive moment in a match that had swung back and forth in the second half. Antonio Nusa put Norway ahead in the 39th minute with a curling right-foot finish after a pass from Martin Odegaard, but Amad Diallo, on as a substitute from the 60th minute, levelled for Ivory Coast with a firm low drive past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Haaland had the final word. Substitute Oscar Bobb, his former Manchester City teammate, found Patrick Berg inside the area, and Berg laid the ball into the striker’s path. Goalkeeper Yahia Fofana could not get to it, and Norway were ahead again. Nyland then saved a late free kick from Amad to secure the result.
“This is insane. It’s been 28 years since Norway last reached the round of 16,” Haaland said after the final whistle. “It’s a massive achievement. It’s insane. It’s amazing to see that this means so much to the whole of Norway. I think this will change Norway forever. There’s a sense of togetherness. It’s emotional to see that.”
On facing Brazil next, he added: “Playing Brazil in the round of 16 is completely insane, so we just have to be happy and say this is a journey, it’s completely crazy.”
Ivory Coast were the sharper side early on, with Nicolas Pepe and Ghislain Konan creating openings, but Norway grew into the match before half-time and eventually took control. After Amad’s equaliser threatened to end their run, it was the Manchester City striker who, as so often, made the difference.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae cut a resigned figure afterwards. “It’s hard to lose in the final minutes. We fought from the first minute to the last, so it’s difficult to talk about it,” he said. “We need things to calm down a little. We learned a lot — it was a first World Cup for many of the players, and perhaps they lacked a little maturity.”
