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Erling Haaland scored the winning goal in the 86th minute as Norway came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their Round of 32 match at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday, sending the Scandinavian side through to face five-time champions Brazil in the next round.
The victory, watched by an announced crowd of 69,665, ended a dramatic World Cup debut run for Ivory Coast, who became the first African nation eliminated after reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the country's history. Norway will now travel to New York to face Brazil on July 5 in the Round of 16.
Ivory Coast controlled the opening half hour of the match, with right winger Nicolas Pepe and left winger Yan Diomande combining for several early chances.
Ghislain Konan forced a save off the side-netting in the 22nd minute, and Pepe nearly set up Ange-Yoan Bonny with a low ball across the six-yard box in the 29th minute.
Norway grew into the contest in the second half-hour and took the lead in the 39th minute. Winger Antonio Nusa pushed into the penalty area, forcing Pepe to backtrack, then cut onto his right foot and bent a shot into the top corner past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
It was Nusa's ninth international goal and came at the end of a 19-pass buildup, one of the longer sequences preceding a goal at this World Cup. Martin Odegaard was credited with the assist.
Norway nearly doubled their advantage twice in quick succession before the interval. Haaland's header was blocked by Emmanuel Agbadou inside the six-yard box, and Alexander Sorloth headed a corner wide of the target moments later.
Norway went into halftime leading 1-0, having outshot Ivory Coast on expected goals, 0.66 to 0.44.
Both managers made changes after the break, with Ivory Coast introducing substitute Amad Diallo in the 60th minute. The 23-year-old forward made an immediate defensive impact, clearing a goal-bound header off the line in the 68th minute to deny Torbjorn Heggem after a Sorloth flick-on from an Odegaard corner.
Amad then turned provider for himself at the other end. In the 74th minute, Pepe combined with Amad in a one-two, and the substitute danced past defenders David Moller Wolfe and Sander Berge before bending a finish past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to make it 1-1.
It was Amad's second goal off the bench at this World Cup, making him only the third player to score twice as a substitute at a single tournament for an African nation.
Norway regained control following the equalizer, holding more than 75 percent of possession in the period that followed. The breakthrough came in the 86th minute, when Oscar Bobb, on as a substitute, slid a pass through to fellow substitute Patrick Berg, who made a run beyond the Ivory Coast defense.
Berg squared the ball across the box to Haaland, who tapped home from close range for his 13th goal in as many competitive internationals for Norway.
Ivory Coast pushed for a late equalizer, and Amad came close with a powerful free kick in stoppage time that Nyland tipped away. The match ended 2-1, with Norway finishing with the higher expected-goals tally, 2.02 to 1.36.
Norway, coached by Stale Solbakken, reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after a dominant qualifying campaign in which they won all eight matches. Their previous two World Cup knockout appearances, in 1938 and 1998, both ended in 2-1 losses to Italy. Tuesday's win marked Norway's first World Cup knockout-round victory.
Ivory Coast reached the knockout stage for the first time in their history this year, finishing second in their group. They will now exit the tournament after one match in the Round of 32.
Norway advance to face Brazil in the Round of 16 in New York on July 5.
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