Norway was a big favorite against Iraq – but had a really hard time. It took a mistake from goalkeeper Jalal Hassan at 4:1 (2:1) for Erling Haaland, who scored twice (29th/43rd minute), and his teammates to get on track. Ex-Bundesliga professional Leo Östigard (76th) and an own goal made the decision.
This World Cup has already produced some goalkeeping heroes. At the top of this list is Vozinha, who has now gained over ten million new Instagram followers with his gala performance against Spain (0-0). Hassan would have been only too happy to join the list of keeper surprises – but he became a tragic figure for Iraq.
Hassan underestimates Haaland’s pace
His team surprised in the first half against Norway, they were even the better team in many phases of the game. The country that qualified last two months before the World Cup kept up with – in some cases even more than – the nation that had achieved the most impressive qualification (eight wins in eight games, 37:5 goals). But Iraq, more precisely Hassan, made the crucial mistake.
That happened in the 43rd minute. The goalkeeper received a somewhat short back pass, but still decided not to go towards the ball and was surprised by Haaland’s speed. The moment Hassan shot, the striker put his leg in the way and blocked the ball into the goal. The goalkeeper made it possible for Haaland’s second strike and Norway’s second lead – which the “Vikings” didn’t miss this time.
Haaland, Hussein and Iraq’s many missed opportunities
Things were different after Haaland scored 1-0 in his own style. Norway played strongly down the left side, David Möller Wolfe crossed hard to the second post, where the Manchester City striker slid into the ball with all his incredible dynamism (29′). But shortly afterwards, Aymen Hussein also showed his class as a striker when he managed a perfect header to equalize after a cross (39th).
Erling Haaland celebrates after his first goal
That was still in the air after Haaland’s second prank – but Iraq failed to take advantage of several chances before the break. Wolfe first blocked a great chance from Ali Jasim at the last moment (45th + 3), then Hussein was free and his shot rolled right next to the post, after the following corner Akam Hashem hammered a volley from 20 meters just over. So Hassan’s mistake tipped the scales.
Östigard puts the lid on it
After a very eventful first 45 minutes, the number of highlights decreased significantly in the second 45 minutes. Almost nothing happened for half an hour, but then Östigard decided the game. The former TSG Hoffenheim defender rushed into a corner and scored with a header to make it 3-1 (76′). And by now Norway was so stable that there was no sign at all that victory could still be in danger.
That’s how it happened, in stoppage time Hussein also scored an own goal (90th + 6). Haaland and Co. won their home country’s first World Cup game since 1998 and picked up where they left off in qualifying. On Monday night (2 a.m. CEST), Norway will want to continue its run in competitive games against Senegal, who lost to France (1:3). Against the team led by Kylian Mbappé, who like Haaland scored twice, Iraq is under pressure three hours earlier (June 22, 11 p.m.).