Erling Haaland and the Vikings of Norway advance to World Cup Round of 16 after 2-1 win over Côte d’Ivoire on day three of the Round of 32

After a slate full of exciting and nerve-wracking matches on Monday, World Cup Knockout stage action kept rolling along on Tuesday afternoon, kicked off by Yan Diomandé and Côte d’Ivoire facing off against Erling Haaland and Norway in the first matchup of the day. 

Norway, making it through the Group stage for the first time since 1998, and Côte d’Ivoire, advancing past the Groups for the first time ever, both came into Tuesday’s affair looking for their first-ever win in the Knockout stage at the World Cup. 

19-year-old Yan Diomandé has been one of the shining young stars at the World Cup this Summer, but it was his 21-year-old RB Leipzig teammate, Antonio Nusa, who got Norway on the board first at Dallas Stadium.  

General view as players line up during the national anthems before the match

Issei Kato

World Cup Round of 32  - Ivory Coast vs Norway

In the 39th minute, Nusa collected the ball along the left side of the pitch after receiving a pass from Martin Ødegaard in Côte d’Ivoire’s half of the field. Nusa carried the ball into the box, shifted to his right foot, and curved a shot into the far corner of the net to give Norway a first-half 1-0 lead.

In the 66th minute, Norway were close to doubling their lead from a corner kick when the ball fell for Torbjørn Heggem on the goal’s doorstep, but his volley on net was cleared off the line by a Côte d’Ivoire defender and the game stayed level at 1-1. 

Not long after, in the 74th minute, Côte d’Ivoire would find their way back into the game thanks to fantastic play inside the box from 23-year-old Amad Diallo. Diallo played a give-and-go with Nicolas Pépé just outside the box, which led Diallo into the penalty area with the ball at his feet and the net in view. 

Norway's Antonio Nusa scores their first goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Kai Pfaffenbach

Diallo carried the ball into the 6-yard-box, shifted to his left, and fired a shot into the far corner of the net to bring Côte d’Ivoire level with about 15 minutes to go.

Côte d’Ivoire thought they were finding the footing they needed to overcome Norway and find a last-minute winner, but Norway had similar ideas, and in the 86th minute, it was none other than Erling Haaland who trickled the ball across the line to give Norway the late lead. 

Norway's Erling Haaland scores their second goal

Hannah McKay

Oscar Bobb split Côte d’Ivoire’s defense with a pass leading Patrick Berg into a dangerous position in the box. Berg collected the pass, sent the ball across the face of the goal, and found Erling Haaland, who tapped in the opportunity to make it 2-1 late in the game, putting Norway in position to win their first-ever knockout-stage match at the World Cup. 

Amad Diallo would get an opportunity to level the game from a freekick in the 96th minute of the match, but Norway keeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland, who had requested his team not set up a wall in front of him, made a finger-tip save on Diallo’s bid, which looked destined to find the top corner of the net. 

Norway's Alexander Sorloth, Orjan Nyland and Sander Berge do the Viking Row after the match as Norway qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup

TIM HEITMAN

The Vikings would hold on to secure a 2-1 victory, earning their first win in the World Cup Knockout stage in Norwegian history.  Norway will advance to the Round of 16, where they’ll face Brazil in New York/New Jersey on July 5th for a spot in the World Cup Quarterfinals.

Côte d’Ivoire, which stayed in Wilmington, DE, and trained at Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park and WSFS Bank Sports Complex for the duration of the World Cup this Summer, will exit the tournament a bit disappointed they didn’t go further, but ultimately proud of the way they represented their country at the World Cup, reaching the Knockout stage of the tournament for the first time ever. It’s safe to say there will be a connection between the City of Philadelphia and Les Éléphants of Côte d’Ivoire for years to come.

Day 4 of the Round of 32

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