Haaland again and again! Norway beat Ivory Coast to enter last 16

DALLAS: Norway reached the last 16 by defeating the Ivory Coast 2-1 in the second-round match of the World Cup on Tuesday. Norway scored first through Antonio Nusa in the 39th minute of the match. Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo equalised in the 74th minute, but superstar Erling Haaland ensured Norway’s progress by scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute.

Both teams displayed attacking football in its finest form, and it is a shame that the Ivory Coast had to accept defeat in a match they played equally well.

Despite the Ivory Coast making sharp attacks and winning consecutive corners, it was Norway who had the opportunity to score. In the 39th minute, Antonio Nusa twisted a pass from Martin Odegaard and put it into the net.

Haaland was silent for most of the game. The Ivory Coast defence prevented Haaland from reaching the ball, but a mistake in marking Nusa led to the second goal. Norway, which had replaced 10 players, including Haaland, in the last match of the group round, played with its top players in the first eleven yesterday.

In the second half, Ivory Coast escaped with a goal-line save from a corner taken by Norway. There were good efforts from both teams in the second half. Goals were also scored.