Haaland's brace downs brave Senegal as the Teranga Lions slip to the brink

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in a MetLife thriller to reach the last 32, leaving the Teranga Lions bottom of Group I on zero points and facing elimination despite a brave Ismaïla Sarr brace.

Senegal came to the brink and could not climb back. Norway beat the Teranga Lions 3-2 in a breathless night at MetLife Stadium, Erling Haaland scoring twice to book his country a place in the last 32 and leave one of Africa's giants staring at the exit. A brave Ismaïla Sarr double dragged Senegal close, but two defeats from two leaves them bottom of Group I with nothing to show.

Senegal had carried the play for long spells, yet Norway struck first. Two minutes before the break Marcus Holmgren Pedersen seized on a careless giveaway and finished calmly, a sucker punch landed just as the Lions looked the more likely side.

Worse followed at once. Three minutes after the restart Martin Ødegaard slipped Haaland clear and the striker did the rest, cool and low into the corner for 2-0. The night was threatening to run away from Senegal.

The Lions roared back. On fifty-three minutes Ismaïla Sarr forced the ball home as he tumbled to the turf, and a contest broke out again. MetLife shook, and Senegal could suddenly see a way in.

Haaland had other plans. Five minutes later he met a dropping ball first time and thumped a volley that cannoned down off the crossbar and over the line, a stunning strike for his second and Norway's third. Back-to-back braces in his first two World Cup games, and the tournament was learning his name in a hurry.

Senegal would not fold. Deep into stoppage time Nicolas Jackson found Sarr, who swept in his second with the conviction of a man who still believed. It lit a frantic finish, but the clock had the final word. 3-2, and the whistle came a few minutes too soon.

The cruel truth is that Senegal were the better side on the numbers, with 57 percent of the ball and seventeen shots to Norway's twelve. They lost the game in their own box, punished twice for their own mistakes. Sadio Mané and a forward line full of names found chances, but never the third goal that would have rescued the night.

Norway march on. Ståle Solbakken's side sit level with France on six points and will meet them to settle who tops Group I, the reward for their opening win over Iraq. Senegal's road is bleak. After their opening loss to France they must beat Iraq in the final round and then pray their goal difference is good enough to slip through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Across Kenya, this one hurt. The continent had pinned its hopes on Senegal, the 2021 African champions stacked with Premier League names, and watching them lose two on the bounce stung. Simba wa Teranga walipigana kweli, lakini usiku huu ulikuwa mzito mno: the Teranga Lions truly fought, but this night was simply too heavy. There was pride in Sarr's refusal to quit and frustration at the soft goals. Our Africa round-one verdict had flagged the giants stuttering, and now the maths is unforgiving. As for Haaland, even a room full of heartbroken Senegal fans had to nod at that volley.