But Controversy Over the 1-1 Draw

LIVE: Norway vs. England – Lineups Announced

Jude Bellingham scored twice.(Bild: AP/Lynne Sladky)

Thanks to Jude Bellingham, England halted Norway’s winning streak and advanced to the World Cup semifinals. On Saturday, the English defeated the Scandinavians 2-1 (1-1) in extra time in the quarterfinal match in Miami. 

After Norway took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup (36'), Bellingham turned the game around with a brace (45'+2, 93').

(Bild: AFP/RICHARD PELHAM)

England manager Thomas Tuchel brought two new players into the starting lineup on the right side: defender Ezri Konsa and attacking winger Noni Madueke. His team initially dominated play with plenty of possession, but against Norway’s back four and the tight five-man block in midfield, they managed only two half-chances.

(Bild: AP/Marta Lavandier)

Norway Takes the Lead, Controversy Surrounds the 1-1 Equalizer
Norway grew bolder after half an hour. After England defender John Stones lost possession near his own penalty area, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford got to the ball just in time to beat Erling Haaland to it (33'). Pickford was also on hand to stop a header from the star striker. But when Schjelderup—the only newcomer in Norway’s starting lineup—fired a well-placed shot into the far corner, there was nothing the keeper could do to stop it. The English unsuccessfully protested a foul on Harry Kane in the build-up. The favorites lost control of the game, and Norway created several dangerous chances, but England managed to equalize before halftime. After a pass from Anthony Gordon, Bellingham broke through in the penalty area and finished confidently.

But VAR should have intervened! After a goal kick by Norway’s goalkeeper Nyland, the ball touched the suspension cable of a Sky cam. A few seconds later, the English scored the equalizer, which, according to the rules, shouldn’t have counted at all.  

Tuchel brought on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at halftime, but they, too, failed to provide any spark. It was the Norwegians who celebrated in the 55th minute—but too soon. After a goal by Torbjörn Heggem, the VAR intervened due to a previous foul by Haaland on Elliot Anderson; the goal was disallowed following a video review. The Norwegians now applied pressure and were the more dangerous team; a header by Kristoffer Ajer hit the crossbar (76th minute). In the closing minutes, England also had a chance to score the winning goal, but Fredrik Aursnes was just able to clear a cross from Saka (87th minute).

(Bild: AP/Chris Carlson)

Bellingham’s Sixth World Cup Goal
The English started stoppage time with a lot of energy and scored the ultimately decisive goal early on. Goalkeeper Örjan Nyland, who had been Norway’s hero in the Round of 16 against Brazil, could only parry a long-range shot by Morgan Rogers; Bellingham reacted quickest and tapped it in. With his sixth goal of the tournament, he tied his captain Kane on the scoring list. A penalty kick awarded to England was overturned after a VAR review (101'), so the Norwegians still had hope. Without Haaland, who was substituted in the 105th minute, Stale Solbakken’s team fought unsuccessfully to avoid elimination in their first World Cup quarterfinal.

(Bild: AP/Chris Carlson)

The tournament bracket:

(Bild: AFP/RICHARD PELHAM)

(Bild: EPA/RONALD WITTEK)

Norway – England 1–2 (1–1, 1–1) after extra time
Miami, 64,478, Referee Turpin (FRA)

Goals:
1–0 (36') Schjelderup
1–1 (45+2) Bellingham
1:2 (93.) Bellingham

Norway: Nyland – Ryerson (60' Aursnes), Ajer, Heggem (91' Östigard), Möller Wolfe (90' Holmgren Pedersen) – Ödegaard, Berge, Berg – Sörloth (67' Bobb), Haaland (106' Strand Larsen), Schjelderup (67' Nusa)

England: Pickford – Konsa (89. Rogers), Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly (86. Spence) – Anderson, Rice (46' Eze) – Madueke (46' Saka), Bellingham (111' Burn), Gordon (71' James) – Kane

Yellow cards: Ajer ; none