Erling Haaland struck with four minutes to go to sink the Ivory Coast and send Norway into the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester City goal machine had been virtually anonymous but he came alive late on, tapping in Patrick Bergs cross to hand Norway their first ever win in a World Cup knockout game.Defeat was harsh on the Ivory Coast, for whom Amad Diallo conjured up a brilliant goal after coming off the bench on the hour mark. Antonio Nusa had opened the scoring for Norway six minutes before the break.Norway were not to be denied, though, and Haalands goal means they go forward to take on Brazil on Sunday.Table of ContentsNusa stunner gives Norway the advantageAmad introduction changes the game as Ivory Coast hit backNusa stunner gives Norway the advantageThe Ivory Coast had the better of the chances in the opening half hour but Nusa then showed his class with a brilliant strike after 39 minutes, cutting in off the left flank and curling a shot past Yahia Fofana into the top right-hand corner.It prompted a five-minute spell for Norway that could have resulted in two more goals.First, Haaland saw a close-range volley deflected wide by Ivory Coast midfielder Ibrahim Sangare after he latched on to Alexander Sorloths knockdown.And from the resulting corner, Sorloth somehow headed wide with the goal gaping.Norway had posed little attacking threat up to that point with Haaland restricted to two speculative headers that failed to seriously test Fofana.At the other end, Ghislain Konan should have done better than fire a shot into the side-netting after 20 minutes and Nicolas Pepe was equally wasteful when latching on to a cross from Yan Diomande at the far post approaching the half-hour mark.Amad introduction changes the game as Ivory Coast hit backThe second half followed a similar pattern with little to separate the two sides and chances being created at both ends.Pepes frustrating afternoon continued when he fired a volley straight at Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, prompting Ivory Coast boss Emerse Fae to introduce more craft to his side with the entrance of Amad on the hour mark.The 23-year-old immediately showed his value at both ends.Having first cleared Torbjorn Heggems effort off the line from a corner, the Manchester United winger produced a more customary moment of magic, playing a one-two with Pepe, stepping inside a Norwegian defender and firing past Nyland.It was a superb goal that made his absence from the starting XI even more mystifying. The Ivory Coast seemed the more likely winners at that stage but they bargained without Haaland.The former Borussia Dortmund man had been superbly shackled by the Ivorian defence all afternoon but they fell asleep in the 86th minute and it was to prove crucial. Oscar Bobb started the move by slipping in Berg down the right side of the box and his low cross was touched home by Haaland, albeit not convincingly.Ivory Coast poured forward in search of a second equaliser but to no avail. Their best attempt saw Amads 25-yard free-kick magnificently tipped over the bar by Nyland at full stretch. Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Amad Diallo Erling Haaland FIFA World Cup Ivory Coast national football team Norway National Football Team World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read LIVE Ivory Coast v Norway: Commentary, updates, goals and stats Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 World Cup 2026 live: Ivory Coast vs Norway confirmed teams and full line ups as Erling Haaland returns, TV channel, live online stream and stats Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 WATCH: Nusa stunner gives Norway the lead in round-of-32 clash with Ivory Coast Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 Croatia star calls World Cup idol Cristiano Ronaldo not the best footballer: Weve seen its Messi Ben Miller 30th June, 2026 England v DR Congo: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026 USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction Jon Fisher 30th June, 2026
