Haaland Scores Twice as Norway Edges Senegal 3-2
Photo: REUTERS
Erling Haaland continued his explosive scoring form as Norway punched its ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Senegal.
The Manchester City star struck twice at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, keeping himself firmly in contention for the tournament’s top honors.
Norway’s marksman has now netted four goals in just two World Cup matches, bringing his staggering international tally to 59 goals in 52 appearances. The win ensures Stale Solbakken’s squad advances to the knockout phase with one group-stage fixture still to play.
Following a cautious start where scoring opportunities remained rare, Norway found its rhythm late in the first half. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen broke the stalemate in the 43rd minute, seizing upon a defensive blunder by Kalidou Koulibaly to fire the ball home.
The momentum stayed with Norway after the break as Martin Odegaard delivered a pinpoint pass to find Haaland in the 48th minute. The striker finished with his trademark composure, marking his 12th competitive appearance in competitive matches for his country.
Senegal refused to go quietly, as Ismaila Sarr cut the deficit in the 53rd minute. However, Haaland restored the two-goal cushion only five minutes later, reacting quickest to poke the ball into the net from close range.
Despite a late surge from the African side that saw Sarr score again deep into stoppage time (90+3), Norway’s defense withstood the pressure to secure the essential three points.
With this performance, Haaland remains locked in a high-profile battle for the adidas Golden Boot, trailing only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the tournament’s most prolific scorer.
Norway now looks ahead to the knockout rounds, fueled by the momentum of their superstar striker.
