World Cup knockouts: Haaland strikes late as France cruise past Sweden

Norway and France both advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday, with contrasting victories in Dallas and East Rutherford.

Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast 

Erling Haaland was almost invisible for the entire match. He touched the ball just once in the first half and did not have a second-half shot until the moment that mattered most.

Antonio Nusa had given Norway the lead in the 39th minute with a curling effort past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, assisted by Martin Ødegaard – who became the first player to record assists in three consecutive World Cup matches since Dirk Kuyt in 2010.

Ivory Coast dominated large stretches of the second half. Amad Diallo cleared a goal-bound Torbjørn Heggem effort off the line before levelling with a brilliant solo goal in the 74th minute, weaving through the Norwegian backline and firing home left-footed.

[See more: Martinelli saves Brazil as Paraguay stun Germany on penalties]

Ten minutes later, Haaland tapped home Patrick Berg’s cutback to settle the game. His fifth of the tournament moves him to within one of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. He has now scored in all 13 of his competitive internationals for Norway.

It was Norway’s first World Cup knockout stage victory in their fourth appearance at the tournament. They face Brazil on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

France 3-0 Sweden

France were ruthless. Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Michael Olise contributed two assists as Les Bleus dismantled Sweden at MetLife Stadium, moving through to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup.

Mbappe broke the deadlock just before half-time, curling past goalkeeper Robin Zetterstrom after weaving through two defenders. Olise had hit the post with a bicycle kick moments earlier.

[See more: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties in World Cup round of 32 thriller]

Bradley Barcola doubled the lead from Olise’s through ball early in the second half, before Mbappe swept in his sixth of the tournament in the 74th minute, levelling Lionel Messi’s total for this World Cup and setting a new record for most multi-goal games in World Cup history with seven.

Sweden bow out having reached the knockout stages for the first time since 1994. France face Paraguay in Philadelphia on Sunday.