Haaland double gives Norway steady win over Iraq in Boston

Main man Erling Haaland will be looking to add to a fabulous goal scoring record on his World Cup debut, with the Norwegian scoring fifty-five times across fifty occasions.

Iraq had the first half chance of the game, with central defender in Akam Hashem firing his header well wide and far of the Norwegian target, but the Middle Eastern side seemed to begin this tie very confident early on here at the Boston stadium.

The first real big chance of the match fell to Norway and Haaland specifically in the 6th minute, but the Manchester City striker was unable to find a Scandinavian colleague in the box and Iraq’s defence lives on.

Both teams were understandably nervy and a little anxious within the first 10 minutes or so, with either side giving the ball away cheaply on several occasions

Al-Hamadi of Luton Town had Iraq’s first real opportunity just after 12 minutes of play, but the striker’s shot was always rising with the Iraqi leaning back whilst firing towards goal.

Norway’s Antonio Nusa seemed to be causing the main threat against Iraq within the first 15 minutes of play, as the RB Leipzig man continued to drive at the Middle Eastern side defence but to no avail as of yet.

The main man in Erling Haaland had his first effort registered on the 20th minute following the first corner of the game, but got his effort all wrong and headed far over the Iraqi target.

As earlier stated, Antonio Nusa of Norway continued to give the Iraq defence several issues, and got the Scandinavian side a free kick in a very threatening position. The ball was fired into Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, but the 30-year-old forward was unable to direct his headed effort with any true conviction behind it.

Haaland breaks the deadlock

Just moments after the hydration break, and Norway finally break the deadlock, with Nusa at the heart of the attack who played a clever ball out wide on the left hand side to fullback David Meller Wolfe who fizzed in a delightful ball to who else but that man Erling Haaland to open his World Cup account.

Iraq seemed to be looking to draw level almost instantly but they were nearly made to pay, with a brilliant counter attack starting from Erling Haaland drawing Iraqi defenders over to him and passing it to colleague Alexander Sorloth just 10 yards in front of goal, but was unable to strike any venom in his shot to double his nation’s lead in this tie just half an hour in.

Norway were continuing to grow in confidence in every pass it seemed, with Arsenal’s maestro in Martin Odegaard joining in the attacking phases but dragging his effort from the edge of the box low and wide just 10 minutes before the end of the first period.

Despite slow but steady signs of Iraq growing in confidence, the side from Scandinavia were soon back ahead but in a way that they would not expect, after a showing of lazy passes in the Iraqi defence presented Erling Haaland possibly the easiest chance in his career to date and calmly placed the ball past goalkeeper Hussain to restore the Norwegian lead minutes before the break.

Iraq were still coming forward with intention, after another brilliant ball gets lofted into the box and this time Ibrahim Bayesh had a brilliant chance but the twenty-six-year old’s effort was blocked superbly well by Moller Wolfe’s leg, despite an initial thinking of a hand being used by the defender, but was quickly ignored.

Al Hamidi of Iraq had a brilliant chance moments before the end of the half to draw Iraq level and claim his second goal of the afternoon, but the striker has his clear shot on goal blocked and lead to a corner.

The ball was lofted in brilliantly which seemed to suit Iraq very well, and the set piece was merely cleared to defender Akam Hashem on the edge of the box, who launched a menacing shot that was millimetres away from levelling Iraq in fantastic fashion, and were definitely still within this fixture heading into half time.

Iraq grow into the game

Iraqi forward in Aymen Hussain had the opening chance in the second half, but was unable to direct his header fully towards the Norwegian target, but Iraq were definitely seeming more confident as time went on in this fixture.

Norway looked to counter this early confidence though and just ten minutes in the second phase, playmaker Antonio Nusa was once again at the heart of any wide threat but that final pass seemed to just be slightly off to provide the Scandinavian side that elusive two goal cushion that they would so desperately want with Iraq very much still in this encounter.

With just 20 minutes to go, Norway looked to not only save some of their key players for upcoming games but to also pose a threat as Fulham’s Oscar Bobb was one of four substitutes to enter the frame, as arguably man of the match performance worthy Antonio Nusa was able to rest following a brilliant individual display against Iraq for 70 minutes or so.

Ostigard seals the win

Speaking of substitutes, central defender Leo Ostigard made a brilliant run in the box from a corner and was left completely alone to head the Norwegians in front with just 15 minutes to go, and would currently leave them joint top of Group I with France, following their earlier 3-1 victory over Senegal.

Five minutes later, and the defender could have had his second of the afternoon as his header was only brushed off the Norwegians head and lacked any conviction behind the header.

Erling Haaland will be more than annoyed at himself, as yet another sloppy pass at the back of the Iraqi defence allowed the talisman a brilliant opportunity, with only a tremendous save via Hussain prevented the Manchester City man scoring a hat-trick on his World Cup finals debut.

The first and only yellow card of the game fell to Zaid Tahseen just 5 minutes before any additional time, with the centre half deliberately blocking Erling Haaland in an attempt to prevent any more damage from being done to the already nervy Iraqi defence.

With the game fizzling out and seeming all set, the real quality began to show and a brilliant ball played into the direction of Erling Haaland header finds its way in, but was soon determined as an own goal by the Iraqi defence to make their day worse, and now places the European side top of Group I via goal difference.

As the full time whistle blew in Boston, Norway can feel very much relaxed and confident for their next game against Senegal in a week’s time, whilst Iraq will have an equally tough game against France in order to keep their dreams of knockout games alive.

For match highlights, please click on the link here