Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 in Group I of the 2026 World Cup, securing an early place in the knockout stage after two matches. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The match took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, USA. Erling Haaland was the star of the game, scoring a brace. Marcus Pedersen added another goal for Norway, while Ismaila Sarr scored both goals for Senegal.
Match Summary
The first half was evenly contested for a long time, but Norway managed to open the scoring just before halftime. Marcus Pedersen, who came on as a substitute in the 13th minute, scored in the 43rd minute to give his team the lead.
After the break, Norway extended their advantage through their leader Erling Haaland. The forward scored the team's second goal in the 56th minute, putting Senegal in a difficult position.
The African team fought back and reduced the deficit through Ismaila Sarr. However, Haaland soon responded, scoring his second goal in the 79th minute to restore Norway's comfortable lead.
In stoppage time, Sarr also scored his second goal, but it was not enough to save Senegal from defeat.
Haaland's Achievements
This brace was Haaland's second consecutive double in the tournament. After two World Cup matches, the forward has scored four goals, moving into second place in the Golden Boot race. Only Lionel Messi has scored more, with five goals. Additionally, Haaland became Norway's all-time top scorer in World Cup history.
Group Standings
After two rounds, Norway has six points and has secured a spot in the knockout stage. France also has six points but leads the group on tiebreakers. In the final group match, the two teams will face each other for first place.
Senegal remains without points but still has a mathematical chance to advance. In their last match, the African team will play against Iraq.