After dismantling Iraq in a 4-1 victory, Norway knew that a win here would seal their progression, and Stale Solbakken’s men were quick out of the traps once again, with a record four corners in the opening four minutes.
One of these produced a glorious opportunity for Kristoffer Ajer, who rose highest in the box and headed goalwards, only for Edouard Mendy to make a stunning save on the line with his legs.
The European side were dealt a blow before the quarter-hour mark when Julian Ryerson was forced off with injury, yet his replacement, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, almost made an immediate impact when his cutback expertly picked out Martin Odegaard, who blazed over the bar.
Senegal gradually grew into the contest after the hydration break as Sadio Mané picked out Nicolas Jackson in the box, but he sent his shot high and wide. Just as it looked like the two nations would be heading into the half-time goalless, Norway were gifted the opener.
Kalidou Koulibaly inexplicably passed straight to Pedersen just outside the box, allowing the first-half substitute to fire in off Mendy for just his sixth career goal and first international strike. Erling Haaland then almost made it 2-0 before the break after he dispossessed Mendy in the box, but his strike cannoned off the post from a tight angle.
However, Haaland did get his goal three minutes into the second half following a swift counter-attack led by Odegaard.
The Norwegian captain slipped the Manchester City striker in, and Haaland made no mistake, sending his strike into the top-right corner. Undeterred, Senegal pulled a goal back within five minutes after a neat passing move culminated with Ismaïla Sarr latching onto Mane’s flick to power into the roof of the net.
Yet Norway responded five minutes later and restored their two-goal advantage as Haaland turned in Patrick Berg’s cross to ensure the Norwegian striker was keeping pace with Kylian Mbappé on four goals, one behind Lionel Messi in the golden boot race.
Following that spell of three goals in 10 minutes, Norway were largely content to sit back with the onus on Senegal to find a way back. And although Sarr netted with a neat finish for the second time of the evening in stoppage time, it proved too little, too late for the Lions of Teranga.
Having already matched their combined wins from every previous WC combined, Norway will now face France in their final group game to determine the winner of Group I. Though still pointless, Senegal will cling to the hope that victory against Iraq in Toronto on Friday could see them qualify for the last 32 via a third-place finish.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Erling Haaland (Norway)