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Erling Haaland sent Norway into a Round of 16 World Cup clash with Brazil by scoring an 86th-minute winner against Ivory Coast.
The Manchester City forward, who was rested for Norway’s 4-1 group defeat against France, took his World Cup goals tally to five in three games and moved to within one goal of Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Haaland’s late goal extended his incredible record of scoring in all of Norway’s competitive games stretching back to October 2024, a sequence that has resulted in 25 goals in 13 games.
The victory marks Norway’s first-ever knockout win at a World Cup. They will now face five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 16 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ivory Coast started brightly and should have taken the lead when Yan Diomande’s cross found Nicolas Pépé inside the area, but the veteran winger cushioned a volley back across goal when it looked easier to strike.
Norway struck six minutes before the break in spectacular fashion. Martin Ødegaard found Antonio Nusa inside the box, and the RB Leipzig winger cut inside before curling a brilliant effort into the top corner. The finish was so precise that Nusa was already celebrating before the ball hit the back of the net.
Haaland almost doubled Norway’s lead early in the second half, but his goal-bound effort was brilliantly blocked by Ibrahim Sangaré.
Ivory Coast continued to look threatening, with Pépé forcing a save from Ørjan Nyland with a low drilled strike.
The Elephants’ persistence was rewarded in the 74th minute when substitute Amad Diallo produced a moment of magic. Combining neatly with Pépé in a quick one-two, he drove into the penalty area, skipped past two defenders, and fired beyond Nyland to bring his side level.
Just 12 minutes after the equaliser, Norway snatched the winner. Oscar Bobb threaded a fine pass down the right for Martin Ødegaard, who squared the ball for Patrick Berg. Three defenders converged on Berg as he moved into the penalty box, and he kicked it over to a wide-open Haaland, who bundled home from close range for his 60th international goal.
