Norway and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland struck either side of Aymen Hussein’s leveller, with Leo Ostigard also on target in a 4-1 triumph which is the country’s third World Cup win early Wednesday morning, Nigerian time.
Both nations were back on the global stage for the first time this century and it was the man that entered with a tick over a half century of international goals, Haaland, who handed Norway the early advantage.
A move that began with goalkeeper Orjan Nyland cycled through 14 passes before David Moller Wolfe delivered a cross from the left that Haaland slid in to poke home at the back post.
Ten minutes later, veteran forward Aymen Hussein became just the second Iraqi player to score a World Cup goal as he rose to meet Amir Al Ammari’s chipped cross and plant a header past Nyland.
Haaland then pounced on a mix-up between Zaid Tahseen and Jalal Hassan to restore Norway’s advantage and send them to the break with a lead for the first team at a World Cup.
Substitute Leo Ostigard, three-and-a-half minutes after his second-half arrival, extended the lead as he was left all alone at a corner to stride towards goal and power a header past Hassan.
A late Hussein own goal saw Norway complete an ultimately comfortable win to move to the head of the Group I standings.
Source: FIFA.com
