World Cup Nights: Haaland downs Ivory Coast, Mbappe draws level with Messi, Mexico end a 40-year wait
A night with last-16 places on the line and the stars shining brightest. In Dallas, Erling Haaland struck on 86' to hand Norway the first knockout win in their World Cup history: 2-1 over Ivory Coast and a date with Brazil. In New Jersey, Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Sweden (3-0) and pulled level with Messi at the top of the scoring chart. At the Azteca, Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to win a World Cup knockout tie for the first time in 40 years. From tonight, Italian time, it's England-DR Congo, Belgium-Senegal and USA-Bosnia.
It began in Arlington, Texas, where Norway produced their star man at the decisive moment. Antonio Nusa curled them ahead on 39' with a right-footer into the top corner, but Ivory Coast hit back: on 74' Amad Diallo levelled with a superb solo effort to restore parity. Just as extra time loomed, Erling Haaland took over: on 86' the Manchester City striker beat Yahia Fofana for a 1-2 that books the last 16. It was his fifth goal of the tournament and his 60th for Norway, who win a World Cup knockout match for the first time in their history and now face Brazil.
In New Jersey, it was the Kylian Mbappe show. The France captain broke the deadlock at MetLife Stadium on 45' with one of his trademark surges, set up by Ousmane Dembele, and after the break the floodgates opened: Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 on 53' from a Michael Olise assist, then on 74' Mbappe, again teed up by Olise, sealed it. It finished 3-0 and Sweden bowed out with their earliest World Cup exit since 1990. A record night for Mbappe: the brace took him to six goals, level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, moved him to 18 career World Cup goals - just one shy of the Argentine's all-time record - and made him the most prolific player ever in the World Cup knockout stage, with ten.
The Estadio Azteca closed the night, coming alive for El Tri after a one-hour delay caused by a thunderstorm over Mexico City. Mexico gave nothing away and struck in the first half: on 22' Julian Quinones cut inside and found the corner on the counter, then on 31' Quinones turned provider to lay on the second for Raul Jimenez. It ended 2-0 in front of 80,824 fans: Mexico's first win in a World Cup knockout tie in 40 years, since Mexico '86 - also on home soil. Javier Aguirre's side remain the only team at the tournament yet to concede, and are just the fourth in history to win their first four World Cup games without conceding a goal.
The headlines, though, belong to the long-range duel between Mbappe and Messi. The two greats are locked together on six goals in the tournament's Golden Boot race, with the Argentine due on the pitch on Friday against Cape Verde to reclaim the crown. Didier Deschamps bowed to his captain: 'When he has the ball it is wonderful, he is playing world-class football,' said the coach. 'He has an incredible influence within the squad.' Mbappe kept his feet on the ground: 'I'm very aware of who I am and what I have to do, but it's not just about me. It's a new competition that starts now: we played well, but we were timid, we could have done better at the start.' On the Mexican side, it was vindication for Aguirre's philosophy - on the eve of the tournament he had warned that World Cups are not won by the team that plays the prettiest football, but by the one that knows how to compete.
From tonight, Italian time, the last-16 picture is completed with three more verdicts. It starts at 18:00 with England-DR Congo in Atlanta: Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions, led by Harry Kane, play for a last-16 date with Mexico, scheduled for Sunday 5 July at the Azteca itself. At 22:00 it's Belgium-Senegal in Seattle, a clash of fading golden generations - De Bruyne and Lukaku on one side, Mane and Koulibaly on the other. And at 2am Italian time, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara hosts USA-Bosnia: Mauricio Pochettino's side, group winners, chase a place in the last 16 at home against a Bosnia team in the knockout stage for the first time in their history. The round of 16, meanwhile, opens on Saturday 4 July with Morocco-Canada in Houston. On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.
Highlights
In Italy, full matches are on RaiPlay.
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