ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Erling Haaland savored the moment as Norway won the finals. world cup For the first time, there was a celebration where he donned a horned helmet on his head, sat on the field again with his teammates and performed Viking Row with fans dressed in red.
After the game, Haaland said on the field: “I can’t believe it. This is history.”
Haaland’s left-footed tap in the 86th minute proved to be the difference as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 on Tuesday, sealing a new World Cup match. Play against 5-time champion Brazil — 28 years since a victory many consider the greatest ever for Norwegians.
For now, they prefer to enjoy their latest achievements.
“What we’re thinking about now is enjoying today’s win. We’re really happy and proud of ourselves,” said team captain Martin Audigaard, who beat the drum to set the pace for the post-match row. “I hope I can keep dreaming, keep believing, and keep performing like I have been.”
Antonio Nusa scored Norway’s first goal with a curling kick in the first half. In their fourth World Cup, they will next face Brazil in the Round of 16 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“This is truly a dream come true,” Nusa said in translated comments.
This is Norway’s first appearance in the World Cup since 1998. At that time, the team achieved a stunning 2-1 come-from-behind victory over then-World Cup champions Brazil in the final group match, scoring goals in the 83rd and 89th minutes to advance to the final tournament.
Amad Diallo, who denied Norway a two-goal lead early in the second half, leveled the game for Ivory Coast with a left-footed kick in the 74th minute.
After Haaland’s first goal, Norway’s record 60th in 53 games, Ivory Coast continued to press and had a chance to equalize with Diallo’s direct free kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Orjan Nyland made the last of his four saves with a jump stop when he extended his left hand across his body to deflect the ball.
“It was easy to panic after the equalizer, but we got the players in the right positions and were able to play our game again,” Norway coach Starre Solbakken said.
Haaland’s 27 touches were the fewest of any Norwegian player to have played a full game, but as Patrik Berg entered the penalty area with the ball, he was left open after three defenders gathered together before making a quick pass. It slowly crossed the line after spilling off the legs of Haaland, who lunged forward as if he had to kick it again.
This was Haaland’s fifth goal in three games in this tournament. That’s one place behind. lionel messiHe scored six goals for Argentina, three of which came in two group games played at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Haaland, who won the Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 27 goals for Manchester City last season, has now scored in 13 consecutive international games, taking his total to 25 in that period.
The youthful Elephants, ranked 31st in the FIFA rankings, have never before won the same World Cup twice. This is the fourth World Cup appearance for West Africa, along with Norway.
“We are proud of what we accomplished,” Diallo said. “But it’s a huge shame because we knew we had quality in the team and players who could always make a difference.”
Nusa scored his first World Cup goal in the 39th minute, slipping slightly out of the left corner of the penalty area and kicking between two defenders with his right foot, heading towards the far post.
Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana attempted to dive on the ball just beyond his reach, but he was still in the air when he turned his head back to see the ball sucked into the net. This was Nusa’s ninth international goal in 28 games for Norway.
Diallo equalized the score at 1-1 after a give-and-go with Nicolas Pepe, who had scored two goals for Ivory Coast in the previous match, but was stopped by Nyland in the 55th minute. Diallo found space and fired a left-footed shot.
It came just about eight minutes after Norway’s Torbjorn Heggen took a shot that was parried away by Diallo, who was right next to the keeper.
In stoppage time in the first half, Nusa received a yellow card and Pepe took a free kick, but his subsequent header went wide of the left of the post.
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