As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, Norway’s players collapsed onto the rain-soaked pitch, rolling over each other in a display of genuine elation. They then gathered in front of their fans, forming a close-knit circle reminiscent of schoolchildren in a cramped assembly.
Off to the side, Martin Ødegaard began to enthusiastically strike a drum provided for the celebration, while the team and coaching staff joined their supporters in a Viking rowing cheer, a ritual they have embraced during this World Cup.
This heartwarming scene followed Norway’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal, a win that secured their place in the knockout phase for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France.
Norway entered this tournament not as mere underdogs, but as a talented squad with considerable depth, not solely reliant on Erling Haaland, although his contributions are undeniably significant. His performance showcased why he is regarded as a remarkable talent in the Norwegian colors.
Norway initially struggled but swiftly overpowered a lackluster Senegal team, scoring three times in a flurry around halftime. The only surprise regarding Haaland’s impact was that he netted just two goals in this match, bringing his tournament total to four and his overall tally for Norway to an astonishing 57 in 51 appearances, including 16 in his last eight outings. These statistics are so extraordinary they almost seem erroneous. What we are witnessing is unique—Haaland’s prowess stands unmatched.
With this victory, Norway now shares the top spot in Group I with France, both teams accumulating six points. Senegal and Iraq, on the other hand, remain scoreless, a situation that highlights the absurdity of the tournament’s format. After two losses and six goals conceded, Senegal’s chances of advancing are slim, despite still contemplating potential matchups in the next round, including a possible clash with England.
Kalidou Koulibaly had a particularly challenging match, making critical errors that contributed to all three of Norway’s goals.
The match had an atmosphere reminiscent of being on the deck of a massive tanker in the North Sea, with ominous skies looming over the New York-New Jersey Stadium, creating an uneasy feeling that a sudden wave might sweep the game away.
New Jersey experienced steady rainfall throughout the day, enveloping the surroundings in a thick, gray mist. The chill was a stark contrast to the warm weather from previous days.
This venue is set to host the final next month, despite being somewhat utilitarian in design, resembling an abandoned alien artifact. Inside, the stadium has a coliseum-like ambiance, featuring three tiers of open stands and ominous black speakers hanging overhead like giant bats.
Norway donned their black kits while Senegal appeared in white. From the outset, Norway applied pressure, winning several corners and positioning their taller players strategically. Defending against Norway’s corner kicks posed a daunting challenge, as evidenced when Kristoffer Ajer failed to convert a close-range header against Édouard Mendy.
Although Senegal attempted to push forward, their efforts lacked precision. Nicolas Jackson was active and mobile, but often found himself offside, illustrating his typical play style.
Julian Ryerson was substituted early in the match due to what appeared to be a muscular injury, with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen stepping in at right back. Pedersen quickly made an impact, delivering a well-placed ball to Ødegaard, who unfortunately sent his shot over the bar.
The early stages of the match were somewhat disjointed and lacked quality. However, in the 36th minute, Norway demonstrated their potential when Antonio Nusa delivered a curling cross to Haaland, who cleverly nodded it back to Ødegaard, only for Mendy to make a fine save with his legs.
As halftime approached, Norway capitalized on Senegal’s mistakes. The first goal resulted from a combination of two errors, with Koulibaly giving away the ball to Pedersen under no pressure. Pedersen seized the opportunity, maneuvering around the Senegal defense and scoring with a shot that Mendy should have stopped.
Haaland nearly added another before the halftime whistle, but his attempt hit the far post after Mendy was caught in a precarious situation. Nonetheless, Haaland was always likely to find the net against a defense plagued by errors.
The second goal arrived just three minutes into the second half, showcasing Norway’s ideal attacking play. Ødegaard advanced the ball, delaying just enough to send a perfectly weighted pass into the space between two defenders for Haaland to run onto. The pass was so precise that it left Koulibaly sprawling on the ground. Haaland’s finish with his left foot was swift and lethal, hitting the far top corner with precision.
Senegal responded in the 52nd minute with a well-executed passing move. Sadio Mané set up Ismaïla Sarr, who managed to evade a defender and score past Ørjan Nyland.
However, Haaland struck again in the 57th minute, benefiting from another blunder by Koulibaly, who failed to clear the ball effectively. Patrick Berg provided the assist, allowing Haaland to volley it expertly just under the bar.
Senegal pressed hard in the closing stages and managed to score another goal through Sarr. However, their performance fell short of the pre-tournament confidence shown by the team. Recently, Senegal’s manager Pape Thiaw expressed his unwavering belief that Senegal could win this World Cup, stating he would rather resign than give up on that hope. For now, he remains in charge, as a final match against Iraq could still determine their fate.
Thiaw also praised Norway, calling them the best European team currently, and they indeed displayed moments of quality, combining solidity with creativity and speed in their attacking play. Norway has strong support, no overwhelming expectations, and above all, the insatiable goal-scoring ability of Haaland. Thus, they are formidable contenders, not far behind the tournament favorites in this unusually open World Cup.
