Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata | July 1 : Norway scripted another memorable chapter in their FIFA World Cup campaign on Tuesday by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 at AT&T Stadium, securing a historic place in the next stage of the tournament. The victory marked the first time Norway have progressed beyond the opening knockout round of a World Cup, setting up a blockbuster quarter-final encounter against Brazil in New York next Sunday.

The Scandinavian side began the match with confidence and gradually took control of possession, creating several promising opportunities against a resilient Ivory Coast defence. Their breakthrough finally arrived in the 39th minute when captain Martin Ødegaard produced a perfectly weighted pass into the penalty area. Winger Nuha collected the ball on the left side of the box, skilfully dribbled past a defender, and calmly slotted his finish into the net to hand Norway a deserved 1-0 lead.

The goal was Nuha's ninth for the Norwegian national team and carried added historical significance, as it was Norway's first goal in a World Cup knockout match in 88 years. The strike gave the European side momentum heading into the second half while putting Ivory Coast under increasing pressure.

Despite trailing, Ivory Coast refused to surrender and gradually found their rhythm after the break. Their persistence paid off in the 74th minute when Manchester United midfielder Djialo produced a moment of brilliance. With a superbly struck effort, he restored parity at 1-1, scoring his eighth international goal in just 23 appearances and breathing fresh life into the contest.

The match appeared to be heading towards extra time, Norway's biggest star delivered when it mattered most. With just four minutes remaining in regulation time, Patrick Berg threaded an excellent pass to Erling Haaland just outside the six-yard area. The Manchester City striker showed remarkable composure, directing a precise finish beyond the goalkeeper, who had virtually no chance of making the save. Haaland's clinical strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory and sparked jubilant celebrations among the Norwegian players and supporters.

The winning goal further enhanced Haaland's outstanding tournament record. After playing three World Cup matches, the prolific striker has now scored five goals, leaving him just one behind tournament top scorer Lionel Messi.

Haaland's overall international record is equally remarkable. The decisive strike against Ivory Coast took his tally to 60 goals in just 53 appearances for Norway, underlining his status as one of world football's most prolific forwards.

With history already made by reaching this stage for the first time, Norway will now turn their attention to an even bigger challenge as they prepare to face five-time world champions Brazil in New York on Sunday. The eagerly anticipated quarter-final promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament, with Haaland aiming to continue his sensational goalscoring form against one of football's traditional powerhouses.