06/22/26 11:07:00
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06/22 23:06 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 to the knockout rounds with a 3-2 win over Senegal
on Monday night that was more of a slog than a sail.
"It's my specialty to score goals," Haaland said. "I'm just really good at
scoring goals."
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," Norway coach Stle Solbakken said through an interpreter. "We
will not be rowing after the World Cup but this can be a gimmick during 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.
"He's very efficient," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said through an interpreter.
Haaland 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 both of 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 did miss an open goal. He could have scored even four," Solbakken said. "He
is the best striker --- he is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores
for Norway."
Ismala Sarr got both goals for the Lions of Teranga, in the 53rd minute and in
the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
"If we had just played slightly worse, then we would be in trouble," Solbakken
said.
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.
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.
"We've got everything left to play for," Thaw said.
Pederson entered in the 13th minute for his World Cup debut after Julian
Ryerson couldn't play through what Solbakken said was a nagging injury, and
Pederson 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.
While there had been storm warnings, a downpour stopped more than 3 1/2 hours
before kickoff. The skies opened again after the final whistle, causing
announcements for fans to leave the stadium bowl for sheltered space.
"Let's be happy," Haaland said, "every single Norwegian on the planet today"
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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