ARLINGTON (United States), July 1 (Bernama-dpa) -- Erling Haaland came to the rescue with a late 2-1 winner as Norway won a World Cup knock-out match for the first time, in the round of 32 against Ivory Coast on Tuesday, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Haaland did not hit the ball cleanly in the 86th minute off a great cut-back from Patrick Berg but it was enough to cross the line for the Manchester City star's fifth goal of the tournament, one behind leader Lionel Messi of Argentina.
The win sent Norway into a last 16 tie with record winners Brazil on Sunday, where Haaland will square off against Vinícius Júnior.
Antonio Nusa put Norway 1-0 up in the 39th minute with a stunning curling shot into the top corner. Ivory Coast's equaliser in the 74th minute from substitute Amad Diallo was as classy after a one-two with Nicolas Pepé, after Diallo had minutes earlier cleared on his goal-line.
But Norway had the last laugh to win a knock-out match on their third attempt, having lost last 16 matches in 1938 and 1998.
Ivory Coast had reached the knock-outs for the first time and came very close to another equaliser when a sensational free-kick from Diallo was saved by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland deep into stoppage time.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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