Haaland the hero as Norway edge Ivory Coast to reach last 16 at World Cup

Norway started on the front foot, and Haaland got his first sight of goal within minutes, although his headed effort was easily blocked.

Only a slightly loose pass from Martin Odegaard denied the revered striker an even bigger early chance, before Ghislain Konan worked an opening at the other end, scuffing his eventual effort into the side netting from a tight angle. 

The African side began to move into the ascendancy, and the best opportunity so far fell to Nicolas Pepe, but he could find neither the target nor a teammate after being picked out at the far post by Yan Diomande.

Just as the half looked as though it was drifting towards a cagey stalemate, Diomande’s RB Leipzig teammate, Antonio Nusa, produced a moment of magic for the Vikings, drifting in from the left and curling a strike beautifully beyond Yahia Fofana.

That belatedly ignited the contest, and Stale Solbakken’s side could have doubled their advantage before the break, but Haaland was thwarted by another block as he looked primed to make the net ripple.

He was then agonisingly close to connecting with Alexander Sorloth’s flick-on from the resulting corner, and there was still time for a half-hearted penalty appeal from Wilfried Singo as Les Elephants pursued a leveller.

Pepe continued to look threatening in the second half and forced Orjan Nyland into his first real save, testing his reflexes with a well-struck effort at the near post.

Chances began to flow at both ends, and Sander Berge nearly extended the lead without knowing much about it, as the ball eventually bounced safely into Fofana’s hands following a wicked delivery into the area. Torbjorn Heggem came even closer, and it took a remarkable block on the line from substitute Amad Diallo to keep out his towering header from a corner.

Amad then made his mark at the other end in spectacular style, sending a message to manager Emerse Fae following his initial exclusion. The Manchester United man danced through the Norwegian defence, providing an emphatic finish to match, in a definite contender for goal of the tournament.

Yet just when it looked as though momentum might favour Ivory Coast, Haaland did what he does so well, popping up in the right place to connect with Patrick Berg’s square pass and bag a decisive tap-in.

In the closing moments, Nyland stayed sharp to prevent one final twist, tipping Amad’s excellent free kick over the bar to book a place in the last 16.

Norway will now prepare for an altogether different kind of test against Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side, with England among the potential quarter-final opponents after that.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast may reflect ruefully on a lack of cutting edge when it mattered, having amassed a remarkable 14 corners in the match. However, they will leave North America with their heads held high, having progressed further than ever and given a good account of themselves throughout the tournament.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Patrick Berg (Norway)

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