Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast: Erling Haaland scores winner to confirm Norway against Brazil in round 16

Norway battled past Ivory Coast 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, with Erling Haaland scoring a late winner to send the Scandinavians into the last 16 to face five-time champions Brazil.

Antonio Nusa gave Norway a first-half lead against the run of play, curling a fine strike into the top corner in the 39th minute.

Ivory Coast, appearing in a World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, responded strongly after the break and were level by the 74th minute when substitute Amad Diallo jinked past several defenders before crashing home an equaliser.

Diallo had earlier denied Norway a two-goal cushion, clearing off the line to deny Torbjorn Heggem. But Haaland, who had a quiet game by his standards with only a handful of touches, popped up with the decisive moment in the 86th minute, tapping in from close range after Oscar Bobb teed up Sander Berge’s cross.

The goal was Haaland’s fifth of the tournament and his 60th for Norway overall, and it secured his country’s first-ever World Cup knockout-stage victory. He has now scored in each of his first three matches at the tournament, joining an elite group of players to achieve the feat.

Ivory Coast, who progressed from Group E as runners-up, had looked the more threatening side for large parts of the second half, with winger Yan Diomande drawing much of the pre-match attention before fading as the game wore on.

Norway, playing in their first World Cup since 1998, will now meet Brazil in the round of 16 on Sunday, a repeat of the fixture 28 years ago when Norway famously came from behind to beat the reigning champions in the group stage on their way to the knockouts.