• Erling Haaland scores twice, securing Norway's spot in the knockout stage.
• Norway beats Senegal 3-2, level on points with France.
• Ismaila Sarr scores twice for Senegal, but they face must-win against Iraq.

In a thrilling match, Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 at MetLife Stadium, securing their place in the last 32 of the World Cup. Substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring for Norway just before halftime. Haaland then extended the lead shortly after the break, bringing his tally to four goals in two matches. This impressive performance places Haaland among the few players to score multiple goals in consecutive World Cup matches, according to SCMP and Reuters.

Senegal fought back valiantly, with Ismaila Sarr netting twice; the first came in the 53rd minute. However, Haaland punished Senegal's defensive slips with a volley that rattled in off the crossbar. Despite Sarr's goal deep into stoppage time, Norway maintained their lead, aiming to secure top spot in Group I with a clash against France on Friday, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Norway's strong performance marks their back-to-back wins in World Cup history, highlighting their potential as serious contenders this year. With this match, they have now lost only once in their last 18 matches. For Senegal, the challenge remains to secure a victory against Iraq to have any hope of advancing, reflecting the high stakes as the group stage approaches its conclusion, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and SCMP.