Haaland's Late Winner Sends Norway Past Ivory Coast
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- Erling Haaland scored the winner with four minutes remaining in Norway's 2-1 Round of 32 victory over Ivory Coast in Dallas, extending his streak of scoring in every Norway competitive game since October 2023 to 25 goals in 13 appearances.
- Ivory Coast statistically dominated with more shots, more efforts on target, and nearly twice as many touches in Norway's penalty area (48 to 25), but could not prevent Haaland's late breakthrough.
- Antonio Nusa opened the scoring with a right-footed curler into the top corner, giving Norway a second scoring threat beyond Haaland ahead of Sunday's Round of 16 tie against Brazil in New Jersey.
- Norway have never lost in four previous meetings against five-time world champions Brazil, and Tuesday's result was their first-ever knockout stage victory at a World Cup.
- Norway haven't won a competitive game without Haaland on the scoresheet since a 2-0 win over Faroe Islands in November 2023, a match in which he entered only as a second-half substitute.
- Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, and Patrick Berg provide the creativity and midfield energy that the source credits with setting up Haaland's winner — Berg's late run teed up the decisive goal.
Why it matters: Norway's tournament life is tethered to one player — Haaland has scored in every competitive match for nearly three years — but the supporting cast faces its biggest test yet against Brazil on Sunday, where limiting Haaland's chances will force Odegaard and Nusa to create from elsewhere. A win would put Norway in a potential quarterfinal against England.
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