World Cup 2026: Golden Boot race heats up as Haaland moves within one goal of Messi
Dallas: There is a terrifying certainty to Erling Haaland. For 85 minutes, the Manchester City striker can appear entirely peripheral, isolated, and tightly marked. But as the Ivory Coast learned the hard way on Tuesday, you cannot switch off against a predator for a fraction of a second.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 and extra time looming in Dallas, three Ivorian defenders converged on Patrick Berg as he drove into the penalty box. Spotting the danger, Berg calmly poked the ball over to a completely unmarked Haaland.
A swift tap-in later, history was made.
Norway held on for a dramatic 2-1 victory, securing their first-ever knockout round win in World Cup history and punching their ticket to the round of 16.
Haaland’s 86th-minute winner was far more than just a match-winning moment; it was the continuation of an unprecedented international scoring streak.
The 25-year-old striker has now remarkably scored in each of his last 13 competitive internationals, racking up a staggering 25 goals during this lethal run.
His fifth goal in just three games at this year's tournament keeps him hot on the heels of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and breathes life into a historic Norwegian campaign.
The match started brightly for Norway when Antonio Nusa opened the scoring with a spectacular, curling kick that left the Ivorian keeper helpless. However, the African nation fought back fiercely.
Manchester United's Amad Diallo, who had single-handedly kept Norway from taking a two-goal lead earlier in the second half, turned hero at the other end, evening the match with a sharp, left-footed finish in the 74th minute.
Following Haaland's late breakthrough, it required absolute heroics in the 95th minute from Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who spectacularly tipped a blistering Amad Diallo free-kick from outside the box over the bar, to secure the win.
By advancing to the round of 16, Norway sets up a dream blockbuster match against five-time champions Brazil this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.