BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Englishman Jude Bellingham delivered a class act, netting a dramatic extra-time brace as the Three Lions dug deep to cap off a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over the Red, White and Blue of Norway.
In his moments of sheer brilliance, the Real Madrid midfield maestro extinguished Erling Haaland’s World Cup dream by single-handedly propelling England into a historic semi-final showdown against either Argentina or Switzerland.
Real Madrid exciting midfielder, Jude Bellingham once again popped up as England’s hero, scoring both goals to secure a 2-1 win over Norway in Saturday night’s World Cup quarter-final encounter.
It was a tough match for the Three Lions as they fell behind in the first half, but Bellingham equalised shortly before half-time and thereafter netted the winner early in extra-time to set up a semi-final against either Argentina or Switzerland.
England dictated the tempo for much of the opening half at Hard Rock Stadium, methodically squeezing the life out of the game. Yet, as the punishing Florida humidity sapped their attacking sharpness, their dominance yielded no reward.
The missed opportunities proved fatal when Andreas Schjelderup cut inside on the left, looping an arcing cross that evaded a leaping Jordan Pickford and clipped the inside of the post to break the deadlock.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked rattled in the immediate aftermath, and both Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard wasted opportunities to double Norway’s lead before England found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when Bellingham ran onto Anthony Gordon’s pass, drove into the box and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
The Three Lions’ captain, Harry Kane and Torbjorn Heggem of Norway traded disallowed goals either side of half-time before Kristoffer Ajer’s looping header came back off the crossbar as Norway posed a particular threat from set-pieces. However, neither side could find a second goal before the 90 minutes were up.
However, England only needed three minutes of extra-time to go in front as Morgan Rogers’ shot from the edge of the box was spilled by Orjan Nyland and Bellingham was the quickest to react to slide home the rebound. Djed Spence then thought he had earned a penalty shortly after, but the decision was overturned following an intervention by VAR.
England’s resolve was tested to its absolute limit as they weathered a relentless storm. Even as Djed Spence and Bukayo Saka burst forward to force desperate saves from Ørjan Nyland, the Three Lions were forced onto the back foot for much of the closing stages, clinging to their hard-fought advantage by a thread to book their place in the semi-finals. – With Goal.com rrports
