Haaland sends Norway through as Brazil await in last-16

Dallas decider

Erling Haaland did what Erling Haaland does. His 86th-minute winner in Dallas sent Norway into the World Cup last-16 and set up a meeting with Brazil that has the football world taking notice.

The Manchester City striker's fifth goal of the tournament came at the death, a poacher's finish from close range after Patrick Berg's low cutback across the six-yard box. It was not pretty. It did not need to be.

Up until that moment, Haaland had been largely anonymous. Antonio Nusa's stunning first-half curler had given Norway the lead, only for Manchester United's Amad Diallo to cancel it out with a brilliant weaving run and finish. The game looked to be heading for extra time.

Then Berg drilled the ball across, Haaland reacted first, and Ivory Coast were heading home.

History made

The goal extends Haaland's extraordinary scoring run to 13 consecutive competitive internationals. More significantly, it marks the first time Norway's men's team have ever won a World Cup knockout fixture. That is not a stat you see every day.

Ståle Solbakken's side now face Brazil on Sunday, July 5, with a quarter-final spot on the line. Haaland against the Seleção. Should be interesting.