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06/22/26 09:51:00
Printable Page
06/22 21:49 CDT Erling Haaland scores 2 more goals and Norway beats Senegal 3-2
to reach World Cup round of 32
Erling Haaland scores 2 more goals and Norway beats Senegal 3-2 to reach World
Cup round of 32
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Erling Haaland and Norway rowed their way into
the World Cup's round of 32.
Haaland scored twice to raise his World Cup goals total to four, and the
Vikings clinched advancement with a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night.
After the final whistle, Norway's players and staff gathered tightly in a
10-row formation just inside the penalty area at MetLife Stadium's north end,
facing their red-shirted supporters, Haaland sitting in front as teammate
Martin degaard banged on a bongo drum. They alternated with the fans
performing the Viking Row --- chanting "Ro!" while mimicking oarsmen.
"It was fun for the players to join in," Norway coach Stle Solbakken said
through an interpreter. "We will not be rowing after the World Cup but this
will be a gimmick throughout the tournament."
Marcus Pederson had put the Vikings ahead in the 43rd minute after replacing an
injured teammate, and Haaland kept up his incredible goals streak in the 48th
and 58th minutes to build a 3-1 lead.
First, he ran onto Martin degaard's pass and put a left-footed shot past the
outstretched left hand of goalkeeper douard Mendy, capping an end-to-end
counterattack for a 2-0 lead.
For his second goal, Haaland tunneled through the defense and 8 yards out
raised his weaker right foot to volley in Patrick Berg's pass. Haaland raised a
hand to an ear to inspire the Norway supporters.
Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international games --- scoring at least
once in every match --- and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The
25-year-old striker joined England's Harry Kane in 2018 as the only players in
the last 50 years with two-goal games in their first two World Cup appearances.
He is second in the Golden Boot race, one behind Argentina's Lionel Messi and
tied with France's Kylian Mbapp. Haaland nearly got another in first-half
stoppage time, hitting a post after Mendy lost control of the ball.
"He could have scored even four," Solbakken said. "It's easier to win the
Golden Boot when you play for France or Argentina."
Ismala Sarr scored in the 53rd minute and in the third minute of second-half
stoppage time for the Lions of Teranga.
Making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway (2-0) is assured of
advancing from Group I along with France. The Vikings need to beat Les Bleus on
Friday for first place and what would appear to be an easier path in the
knockout bracket.
While not eliminated, Senegal is 0-2 in a World Cup for the first time and
needs a win over Iraq (0-2) to have any chance of advancing as a third-place
team.
Pederson entered in the 13th minute for his World Cup debut after Julian
Ryerson got hurt, and he put the Vikings ahead with the help of mistakes by
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Mendy.
degaard made a centering pass that Koulibaly cleared straight to Pedersen at
the top of the arc. Pederson took two touches and sent a savable shot inside
the near post that glance off Mendy's left hand and into the goal.
Mendy left in the 63rd minute because of an injury.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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