Erling Haaland scored an 86th-minute winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Dallas to set up a last 16 tie with Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 5.Ivory Coast looked like they had sent the tie into extra time when Amad, on as a substitute, equalised with 74 minutes played. But Haaland, who had had a quiet game, scored with a mis-hit finish to win the match, squeezing Patrick Berg’s pass over the line.While Ivory Coast created the better chances in an entertaining first half, it was Norway who took the lead in the 39th minute through a moment of brilliance from Antonio Nusa. The 21-year-old RB Leipzig winger dribbled into the box from the left, shuffled quickly on to his right foot and curled a superb strike into the far top corner.Emerse Fae’s side were the better team in the second half and continued to create good chances. But Norway held out and then, with a sense of inevitability, Haaland intervened at the end.Stuart James, Oliver Kay, Sam Lee and Liam Tharme analyse the key talking points.Welcome to the Erling Haaland experienceFor anybody new to watching Haaland… welcome to the full Erling experience.Almost every goal he scores is a record, so here we go again: he has become the first player to score on his first three appearances at a World Cup, and the fastest player ever to score 60 international goals.He has those 60 goals in 53 games. And yes, if you were watching most of this game wondering why he is not getting involved much, that is completely normal.Seasoned Haaland watchers will not be surprised, of course. So far this summer he has seemed to be ultra pumped up, charging around up front, pressing defenders and goalkeepers ferociously, and scoring four in his first two games. And, while goals are basically a guarantee with the 25-year-old, that kind of energy is not always a given.Haaland’s mis-hit shot trickles into the net (Lars Baron/Getty Images)It was noticeable here that Norway were playing a conservative game, and Haaland’s own efforts seemed to be pared back, presumably an instruction by manager Stale Solbakken. The striker did what he often does: waited for the right moment to pounce. Yet, for a while, it did not seem like the moment would come at all.Martin Odegaard, Norway’s chief playmaker, was, ironically, too keen to find Haaland, but by the time he realised the pass was not on the whole chance had disappeared. In the minutes leading up to his goal, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (twice) and Andreas Schjelderup put in poor balls Haaland had no hope of getting on the end of.But when Oscar Bobb’s pass unlocked the Ivory Coast defence, and the ball was played across the box, of course he was there. It was not the most assured finish of Haaland’s career, but it will be one of the most important: Norway can now look forward to that last-16 meeting with Brazil.
Erling Haaland strikes late as Norway defeat Ivory Coast. But can they beat Brazil?
Analysis as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 through a late Erling Haaland goal to set up a last 16 tie with Brazil










