Lagos, June 23, 2026 – Norway secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Senegal in an entertaining Group I clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with striker Erling Haaland delivering a match-winning performance by scoring twice.
The encounter took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and lived up to expectations as both teams displayed attacking ambition from the outset.
Senegal enjoyed more possession during the early stages, while Norway looked threatening whenever they broke forward on the counterattack.
Despite several opportunities at both ends, neither side was able to break the deadlock until the closing minutes of the first half.
Norway finally opened the scoring in the 43rd minute through Marcus Pedersen. The defender capitalised on a chance inside the penalty area and calmly found the back of the net to give his side the lead.
The goal arrived at a crucial moment and handed Norway momentum heading into the interval.
Just after the restart, Norway extended their advantage. In the 48th minute, Martin Odegaard threaded an excellent pass through the Senegal defence, allowing Haaland to race through and finish confidently for a 2-0 lead.
Senegal responded positively and reduced the deficit five minutes later. Sadio Mane provided the assist for Ismaila Sarr, who applied a composed finish to make it 2-1.
The goal energised the African side as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
However, Norway restored their two-goal cushion in the 58th minute. Patrick Berg found Haaland with a precise delivery, and the prolific forward made no mistake in converting to register his second goal of the match.
Senegal refused to back down and continued to create chances despite trailing. Their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time when Sarr struck again in the 90+3rd minute.
The forward reacted quickest inside the box and finished clinically to reduce the margin to 3-2.
The late strike ensured a tense ending, but Norway remained organised defensively and successfully protected their lead until the final whistle.
Haaland’s brace ultimately made the difference for the Europeans, while Sarr’s double underlined Senegal’s determination throughout the contest.
The victory strengthens Norway’s chances of advancing to the knockout rounds, whereas Senegal can draw encouragement from a spirited display despite leaving the pitch without a point.