Haaland scores again as Norway clinch last-16 spot, Golden Boot race heats up

Erling Haaland scored twice again Tuesday to lead Norway into the World Cup round of 32, while closing in on Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.

Norway edged Senegal 3-2 in their Group I second match at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday (Korean Standard Time). Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring before Haaland added two more, enough to hold off a spirited Senegal comeback fueled by a brace from Ismaila Sarr.

Norway had already beaten Iraq 4-1 in their opening match — their first World Cup appearance in 28 years — with Haaland netting twice that day as well. The back-to-back wins give Norway six points (seven goals scored, three conceded), placing them second in Group I behind France, who beat Iraq 3-0 on Tuesday to move to six points with a superior goal difference. Norway secured their round-of-32 berth ahead of schedule.

Both Norway and France, already through to the round of 32, will meet June 27 at Boston Stadium in their final group-stage match to decide who tops Group I.

Norway were forced into an early change when right back Julian Ryerson went off injured in the 13th minute, with Pedersen coming on as his replacement. Before the goal, Norway had chances through a Christopher Ajer header in the third minute and a Martin Odegaard left-footed shot from close range in the 37th minute, but both were stopped by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when a clearance by Senegal center back Kalidou Koulibaly fell to Pedersen, who fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area to open the scoring. It was Pedersen's first international goal — scored on the World Cup stage, no less, as a substitute.

Haaland, who had gone scoreless in the first half, made up for it just three minutes into the second. Odegaard threaded a pass through the Senegal defense and Haaland ran onto it, slotting home with his left foot for his third goal of the tournament.

Senegal refused to go quietly. In the 53rd minute, Sarr peeled into the penalty area to receive a pass from Sadio Mane, held off a defender and finished with his right foot to pull one back.

Norway restored their two-goal cushion in the 58th minute, however, when Patrick Berg delivered a low cross from the left and Haaland met it in the center of the penalty area with a first-time right-footed finish.

Senegal were further hampered when starting goalkeeper Mendy went off injured in the 63rd minute, replaced by Mory Diaw. But they kept pressing, and Sarr added a second in stoppage time to make it 3-2 — though they could not find a third to level the match.

Haaland's brace brought him to four goals in two matches, level with Kylian Mbappe of France, who also scored twice Tuesday. Leading the race is Lionel Messi of Argentina, who netted twice as well to move to five goals. With multi-goal performances becoming a pattern, the Golden Boot contest is growing fiercer by the match. Mbappe, whose France side are considered title contenders, holds a relative advantage — deeper tournament runs mean more chances to score.

The Group I finale between Norway and France takes place June 27, with both sides already through to the round of 32. The match will determine who finishes top of the group — and is also expected to serve as a personal duel between Haaland and Mbappe.