- Amad Diallo’s heroics count for nothing as Norway reach last 16 round
Africa on Tuesday recorded another casualty at the ongoing World Cup as Cote D’Ivoire painfully exited the tournament after Norway grabbed a late winner to hit the last 16 stage with just four minutes left on the clock.
Predictably, Erling Haaland was Norway’s hero as his priceless strike secured a 2-1 win over the Elephants of Ivory Coast to send the Scandinavians through and set up an interesting showdown with Brazil.
The Manchester City striker, who had been peripheral for long stretches, suddenly popped up to bobble home the winner in Dallas, after Manchester United’s Amad Diallo had hauled the West African nation back on level terms.
The Ivorians generated the better openings in the first half, but there were no clear-cut chances, and in a moment of sheer magic, the Norwegians snatch the lead shortly before the break.
Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard found Antonio Nusa on the left of the box, and the wide man jinked inside and bent an unstoppable strike into the far side-netting that left the Ivorian keeper stranded on his line.
The goal seemed to spark Norway into life as they immediately spurned two golden opportunities to double their advantage. Haaland’s weak close-range volley was well blocked, and from the resulting corner, the Manchester City hitman couldn’t get on the end of Alexander Sorloth’s header, which bounced just wide.
However, it was Ivory Coast substitute Amad who took centre stage in the second half, blocking a goal-bound shot on the line at one end before combining wonderfully with Nicolas Pepe at the other side to equalise.
The Man Utd winger darted into the box, skipped around a defender and fired home from close in.
But Norway, and Haaland, would not be denied, as they found a winner with four minutes left to play. Patrick Berg latched onto Oscar Bobb’s fine pass and squared to the striker, and the ball seemed to bounce off him and roll into the back of the net.
Amad almost sent the game to extra time at the death, but his sublime free-kick in the sixth minute of added time was palmed away by Orjan Nyland in goal for the Norwegians.
