Haaland lifts Norway past Ivory Coast and into Brazil showdown

Erling Haaland scored the decisive late goal as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Dallas, sending his team into a World Cup round-of-16 meeting with Brazil. The result was also reported as Norway's first knockout-stage win at a World Cup.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken praised Haaland after the match, saying he regards the Manchester City forward as the best goalscorer in the game and would not exchange him for another player. The coach also pointed to Haaland's hold-up play and ball retention as parts of his contribution that can be overlooked.

The report credits Haaland with five goals in three matches at this World Cup, placing him close to the top of the tournament scoring race at the time. It also notes a longer scoring streak for Norway in competitive fixtures, though those rolling statistics should be checked against official tournament and federation records before publication.

Brazil now represent a much larger test, even if the report notes Norway's unbeaten record in four previous meetings with the five-time world champions. For editors and readers, the key question is whether Norway's structure can keep supplying Haaland in a match where Brazil are expected to control longer stretches of play.