Here's how Norway capitalized on Iraq mistakes to win World Cup match
· Yahoo Sports
FOXBORO – There seems to be no stage too grand for Erling Haaland.
Norway were the beneficiaries Tuesday night, June 16, in their first World Cup match since 1998. Their star striker bagged a pair of first-half goals and Leo Ostigard wasted no time adding a third after coming off the bench later on.
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That was a winning recipe for Norway against Iraq, and it put them atop Group I thanks to this 4-1 triumph at Boston Stadium. Kristian Thorstvedt’s header in stoppage time caromed off Aymen Hussein for an own goal – the Iraq striker wound up scoring for both teams on this perfect summer night in front of 63,106 fans.
“Obviously we have to win,” Norway midfielder Sander Berge said. “That’s the main thing – win games. You’re not participating at a World Cup or Euros just trying to perform.”
Norway bettered the 3-1 result posted by France against Senegal earlier in the day, and they did so partly thanks to one of the world’s premier attacking talents. Haaland stabbed home a cross from David Moller Wolfe in the 29th minute, a lunge at the back post with his left foot. He added a second just before halftime, pouncing on a defensive mistake by Iraq to redirect an attempted clearance from keeper Jalal Hassan.
“We had a good match plan,” Iraq defender Merchas Doski said. “But like I said, we made too many mistakes. Then we conceded from these mistakes.”
Haaland's opener came just after the hydration break in the first half. Antonio Nusa found Moller Wolfe on an overlapping run down the left wing, and he picked out Haaland darting for the back post. His connection was enough to take the ball past Hassan and make it 1-0.
“You can always see the hunger in him when it’s game time and there’s something at stake,” Berge said. “He’s out there and he’s an animal. He delivers all the time.”
Haaland struck again just four minutes after Iraq managed an equalizer from Hussein. Iraq’s defense played a pass short of Hassan in goal, and he attempted to swing through it with his right foot. Haaland raced in to close the keeper down, and the ball hit both of his shins before firing into the back of the next.
“I don’t really know what happened,” Iraq defender Hussein Ali said. “I have to look back at it. It’s unfortunate.
“What can I say about it? Mistakes are part of football.”
Norway sealed the game late
Norway all but put the game to bed through a set piece in the 76th minute. Martin Odegaard served in a corner kick from the right side and Ostigard was quick to react in the penalty area. His run toward the near post brought him to the ball ahead of Hassan, who was a second late to punch away what became a free header under the crossbar.
“I think for 60 minutes we played very, very well,” Doski said. “But we made too many mistakes, and Norway used it. So it was a deserved win for them.”
Too many mistakes doom Iraq
It could have been Iraq leading at halftime if not for those errors and a couple missed chances at the other end. Ali Al-Hamadi fired over the bar early and Iraq scored its first goal in a World Cup since Ahmed Rahdi struck against Belgium in 1986. Amir Al-Ammari dug out a cross from the left wing and Hussein leaped highest for a powerful header between two Norway defenders.
“In the box he’s a monster,” Doski said. “He’s ice cold. He’s a leader. He’s our leader – one of our captains. Very strong mentality.”
Al-Hamadi was through on goal late in the half but denied by a Moller Wolfe tackle in stoppage time. Akam Hashim’s volley rippled the top of the net above the crossbar, sending both teams into the break. Ibrahim Bayesh’s lofted volley found the top of the cage at the other end early in the second half, and Iraq began to fade from there while Norway assumed more control.
“It’s about continuing,” Haaland said. “Don’t think too much. It’s difficult at this stage, but focus on next.”
Norway will meet Senegal in New York/New Jersey next time out Monday night. France will take on Iraq in an earlier match in Philadelphia. Norway and France will play here for the final group match on June 26, a meeting that could help decide who advances to the knockout stages.
“All of us – 11 players there and the bench making a difference,” Berge said. “We will just improve day by day and learn from this and then we’ll have two more different tests coming up.”
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score of Norway vs. Iraq World Cup match on June 16 at Boston Stadium