Norway secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium as Erling Haaland scored twice to seal the three points.
This highly anticipated World Cup clash brought together two contrasting styles in New Jersey. Norway aimed to use their physical presence, while Senegal relied on their technical speed to control the tempo of the game.
Senegal started the match brighter, keeping the ball well and forcing Norway deep into their own half. The African side looked dangerous on the flanks but struggled to test the Norwegian goalkeeper early on. Senegal managed ten shots inside the box during the game but found the Norwegian defense difficult to break down.
Norway broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 43rd minute. Marcus Pedersen found space inside the penalty area and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner.
The European side held a narrow 1-0 lead at the interval. Senegal knew they had to be more creative in the final third, while Norway wanted to exploit counter-attacking spaces.
The second half began with immediate action as Norway doubled their advantage in the 48th minute. Haaland latched onto a quick pass and fired a powerful shot into the back of the net.
Senegal refused to give up and responded just five minutes later. Ismaïla Sarr found space in the box in the 53rd minute and guided the ball home to reduce the shortfall.
However, the Norwegian joy was restored in the 58th minute. Haaland showed his class once again, drilling a low strike past the keeper to make the scoreline 3-1.
Senegal fought hard in the final minutes and set up a tense finish. Sarr scored his second goal of the match deep in stoppage time, finding the net in the 93rd minute.
Senegal finished the match with 58 percent possession and registered 16 shots. Norway were more clinical with their 13 attempts, winning the expected goals battle by 2.1 to 1.7. Norway also recorded seven shots on target compared to just four from Senegal.
This crucial victory gives Norway a perfect start to their World Cup campaign. Senegal must now regroup quickly ahead of their next fixture to keep their knockout stage dreams alive.
