Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in their World Cup Group I opener. It was a "special night" that marked both nations' returns to the World Cup after long absences.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in their World Cup Group I opener. It was a "special night" that marked both nations' returns to the World Cup after long absences.
Erling Haaland took just 29 minutes to announce himself at his first World Cup. David Møller Wolfe got to the byline, pulled it back, and Haaland was there at the far post to slide it in. Iraq, to their credit, hit straight back. Ten minutes later Aymen Hussein climbed above three defenders and headed Amir Al-Ammari's cross past Ørjan Nyland to make it 1-1.
It didn't last. Just before the break, Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan made a mess of a backpass, and when his clearance cannoned off Haaland and into the net, Norway had the lead back for good. Leo Ostigard nodded in a third on 76 minutes, and Hussein's miserable night was complete when he turned into his own goal in stoppage time.
Graham Arnold framed the night around his players' effort rather than the scoreline. "I thought the boys did exceptionally well in the first half, but a couple of mistakes hurt us badly," the Iraq coach said. Even so, he wanted to enjoy the occasion. "But what a great occasion this has been for Iraq and so many fans here. So, it's a special night."
He knew who had beaten him. "He's just an amazing number nine," Arnold said of Haaland. "We dealt with him quite well for a lot of the game, but at the end of the day he's a top striker. Norway could shock a lot of people with the team they have."
Haaland felt his finishing sharpened as the game went on. "My first goal was nice, the second even nicer," he said. "I'm proud of everyone that we could get off to a good start." His coach, Ståle Solbakken, had backed him to rise to the occasion beforehand — and felt vindicated: "He liked the occasion, he lived up to the occasion. The occasion wasn't too big for him."
Haaland's brace took his international tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances. The win lifted Norway to the top of Group I on goal difference, level on three points with France, who had beaten Senegal 3-1 earlier.
Iraq defender Hussein Ali summed up the mixed mood after the own goal that closed the scoring. "It's a proud moment for him," he said of Hussein's earlier header. "But of course, with the end result, it's hard to celebrate a goal like that. We're on to the next game."
Solbakken plans to give his squad a break before their next fixture. "I think it will be good for them to not see me the next two days," he said, mentioning family visits and the chance of a round of golf. Norway face Senegal on 22 June in New Jersey.
Iraq will go against the reigning champions, France, on the same day in Philadelphia.
