Who else but Haaland! Ace striker steals late winner against resilient Ivory Coast, sets up date with Brazil

Norway secured a late winner against the Ivory Coast, with Erling Haaland making it 2-1 for the Europeans with a tap-in in their FIFA World Cup round of 32 clash at the Dallas Stadium.

Substitute Oscar Bobb played a delightful ball into the box for Partrick Berg, who found Haaland unmarked in the box with a pull back, and the Manchester City striker scored in the 86th minute despite not getting a clean touch.

Amad Diallo had equalised for the African side with a 74th-minute strike after Antonio Nusa's 39th-minute opener. Manchester United winger Diallo was introduced in the 60th minute and got on the scoresheet by cutting in from the right before chopping onto his left and poking it past Nyland.

For his opener, RB Leipzig winger Nusa had cut inside from the left and spotted an opening between two defending Ivorians. He still had to beat Yahia Fofana, but did the goalkeeper really have a chance with a sumptuous curler that sneaked into the far corner?

Until Nusa broke the deadlock, the African heavyweights had repeatedly knocked on the Viking doors, with their wily wingers Yan Diomande and Nicolas Pepe dancing into the box but failing to apply the finish.

Diallo so nearly scored a second equaliser, but Nyland made a brilliant diving save to deny a left-foot freekick from dead centre. 

Norway managed to get the job done in regulation time and avoided the fate of two other Europeans, the Netherlands and Germany, who flirted with danger and lost in shootouts to Morocco and Paraguay respectively, in the round of 32.

The Norwegians had a well-rested squad as Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to the side that lost 1-4 to the French in their last group match. But they had to dig deep and rely on the poaching instincts of their talisman to set up a date with Brazil in New Jersey on July 6.