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Erling Haaland scored a double, and Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 on Monday at the , securing their qualification for the next round of the 2026 World Cup with six points from two matches.
The match started with a setback for the Norwegians: Julian Ryerson left the field in the 13th minute due to injury, and Marcus Pedersen came on as his replacement, who would end up being a key player. It was precisely the substitute who opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, with a shot that made it 1-0 just before halftime.
In the second half, Haaland didn't take long to make his mark. At the 48th minute, he extended the lead to 2-0, but Senegal responded immediately: Ismaïla Sarr scored in the 53rd minute with a shot from the center of the area for 2-1.
The Norwegian response was decisive. Haaland scored again in the 58th minute to make it 3-1, a blow that practically sealed the match. Sarr scored the 3-2 in the 90th minute, in stoppage time that only served to soften the final score.
The statistics reflect a more balanced match than the score suggests: Senegal had more possession (57% compared to 43%) and more total shots (14 against 13), but Norway was more effective with seven shots on target compared to just four from the Africans.
Haaland has already accumulated four goals in two matches of the tournament, following the brace he also scored against Iraq in the opening match, establishing himself as one of the standout players of the 2026 World Cup.
With this result, the is defined in its top two positions: France leads with six points and a goal difference of +5, followed by Norway with six points and +4. Senegal and Iraq are eliminated with zero points after two losses each.
Norway returns to the World Cup after 28 years of absence—its last participation was in France 1998—and is moving confidently towards the round of 16.
The third round of the group phase will take place on June 26: Norway will face France at Gillette Stadium in Boston, while Senegal and Iraq will bid farewell to the tournament at BMO Field, with both matches starting at 3:00 PM Cuba time.
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