Manchester United winger Amad Diallo delivered a moment of sheer magic to equalize for Ivory Coast against Norway in their World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match, but it wasn't enough as Erling Haaland secured a late victory for Norway.
Norway initially took the lead in the first half, with Antonia Nusa finding the net, assisted by Arsenal's Martin Odegaard. The score remained 1-0 until the 74th minute when the 23-year-old Diallo, fresh off a quick one-two, showcased his dribbling skills inside the box before slotting the ball past the Norway goalkeeper for a stunning equalizer.
The goal was a display of pure brilliance from the Man United winger. However, Norway pushed hard for a winning goal throughout the match. Despite Erling Haaland being frustrated and denied multiple times, he ultimately found his moment.
With the game seemingly headed for extra time, Oscar Bobb played a key pass to Patrick Berg, who then squared the ball perfectly for Haaland. The Manchester City striker made no mistake, scoring the decisive goal to send Norway through to the next round. Goalkeeper Nyland also made a crucial save in stoppage time, tipping over a powerful free-kick from Diallo that looked destined for the corner.
This victory marks Norway's return to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in 28 years. They are now set to face Brazil in the Round of 16. Ivory Coast, making their knockout stage debut, exits the tournament with pride after a hard-fought performance.
