“Norway defeats Senegal 3-2 and leaves them on the brink of the abyss in the World Cup”

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East Rutherford (EFE).- Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 this Monday and, after 28 years without stepping into a World Cup, qualified for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup thanks to another brace from its star, Erling Haaland, who once again made the difference for his team.

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Twenty-three touches and six completed passes throughout the match were enough for Erling Braut Haaland, one of the tournament’s stars, to score his second brace in two World Cup matches and match the performances of his goal-scoring counterparts, Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé, on a historic day for Norwegian football, as they qualified among the top 32 in the world.

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Senegal had more ball possession at times, but they were less threatening than when Norway and all their artillery broke out into space. Sadio Mané, the star of the Senegalese attack, barely intimidated whenever he got hold of the ball.

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The Manchester City ‘9’ took advantage of an open-field counterattack to sprint into space and, following Odegaard’s pinpoint pass, chipped Mendy with Haaland’s usual composure in front of goal.

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Haaland, unleashed in the second half, scored his brace, this time assisted by Patrick Berg and with Mendy unable to do anything, as he ended the play injured and had to be substituted.

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With his two goals against Senegal and the other two against Iraq, Haaland reaches 59 goals in 51 matches for his national team, in addition to stringing together 12 consecutive matches with Norway finding the back of the net, since November 2024.

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Senegal’s comeback attempt

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In the midst of Haaland’s recital, the Lions of Teranga scored their first goal of the match, courtesy of Ismaila Sarr from a Mané pass, which gave them some hope.

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Sarr, a player for the English club Crystal Palace, also scored to make it 3-2 with just a few minutes left, but his brace was not enough for a Senegal side that is practically eliminated, with zero points and a negative goal difference of three, with only a match against Iraq left to play.

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On a night with 100% attendance according to FIFA, the red tide made the stadium vibrate with their chants and Viking boat rowing movements, which the players themselves also performed at the end of the match.

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