Haaland sparkles on World Cup debut with 2 goals in 4-1 victory over Iraq

Erling Haaland announced his arrival on the World Cup stage with a brace in Norway's dominant 4-1 opening victory against Iraq. The prolific striker needed less than 30 minutes to score his first World Cup goal, converting a low cross in the 29th minute. This marked a significant moment for Norway, returning to the tournament after a 28-year absence. Haaland, who scored 16 goals in eight qualifying games, showcased his predatory instincts. Iraq, making their first World Cup appearance in four decades, fought back with a stunning equalizer from Aymen Hussein just ten minutes later. However, their resurgence was short-lived as Haaland capitalized on a defensive lapse to score his second goal, bringing his international tally to 57 in 51 matches. The first half concluded with Norway leading, despite Iraq's resilience and a combined 68 years of World Cup absence between the two nations. The pace slowed in the second half, but Norway secured their win with a late header from substitute Leo Ostigard and an own goal by Hussein in stoppage time. Norway's next match is against Senegal, while Iraq faces a tough challenge against France.

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Norway’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, bagged two goals in his maiden World Cup appearance ​on Tuesday to guide his team to an opening 4-1 Group I victory over Iraq, and put down a ‌marker for the tournament.