Haaland scores twice as Norway beat Senegal at World Cup

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Senegal at MetLife Stadium on Monday, moving atop World Cup Group I with six points from two matches.espn
Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring before halftime; Senegal’s Ismaïla Sarr equalized, but Haaland restored the lead with a quick second-half brace.usatoday
Haaland’s four goals in two games tie France‘s Kylian Mbappé and trail only Lionel Messi’s five in the tournament-leading Golden Boot race.reddit

Haaland Scores Twice as Norway Cruise Past Senegal at MetLife Stadium

Erling Haaland continued his prolific World Cup debut with a brace as Norway defeated Senegal at MetLife Stadium on Monday night, all but securing their place in the round of 32 in their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Pedersen Opens the Scoring

Marcus Holmgren Pedersen broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, giving Norway a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. Senegal’s Ismaïla Sarr pulled one back for the West African side, scoring while falling to the ground in an acrobatic effort. But Haaland restored Norway’s advantage early in the second half, needing just minutes after the restart to find the net, before adding a second to put the result beyond doubt and restore a two-goal cushion.usatoday

The Manchester City striker now has four goals in two World Cup matches, having also scored twice in Norway’s 4-1 opening victory over Iraq in Boston. His tally puts him level with France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot and within one of Lionel Messi’s tournament-leading five goals.foxsports

Weather Fears Prove Unfounded

The match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, kicked off on schedule at 8 p.m. ET despite concerns that storms could disrupt play. Earlier in the day, the Group I match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia was delayed for approximately two hours at halftime after thunderstorms and lightning moved into the area around Lincoln Financial Field. FIFA cited “adverse weather conditions, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of the stadium” in suspending that match, which France eventually won 3-0.cbssports

The Fox broadcast network was forced to shift the Norway-Senegal coverage to FS1 as the France-Iraq delay overlapped with the scheduled kickoff.latimes

Group I Takes Shape

The result leaves Norway atop Group I with six points from two matches, having scored six goals and conceded just two. France, who also won their second match, sit on six points as well. Senegal and Iraq remain winless. Norway will face France in their final group stage match on June 26 in Boston, a clash that could determine who tops the group heading into the knockout rounds.nytimes