Norway vs Senegal stats and analysis: Complete attacking display wins it for Landslaget

Norway had no trouble creating goalscoring opportunities against Senegal and earned a deserved 3-2 win.

Erling Haaland bagged two more goals to lead yet another win for his country. But it was early substitute Marcus Pedersen who broke the deadlock to make way for the Manchester City striker’s brace.

Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr did pull two goals back but it wasn’t enough. The Lions of Teranga had more of the ball (58% – 42% possession) and did find some success going forward, but struggled mightily at the back.

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Diverse attacking plays

Norway showed great ability to attack, bring danger and create concrete goalscoring opportunities in many ways against Senegal.

The first one was via set plays. They won a whopping four corners in the first four minutes of play and even got a statistically calculated big chance out of one. However, Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer headed it down the middle and Edouard Mendy saved it.

The Scandinavians also managed to enter the final third and the box with short-pass combinations from the back or long, over-the-top through balls. Martin Odegaard and Fredrik Aursnes took advantage of Senegal’s zonal 4-2-3-1 out of possession and ‘hid’ behind Gana and Pape Gueye, between the lines.

Odegaard had two great chances to score from both those types of plays in organised attacks, but couldn’t put them away.

And, of course, fast breaks are and always will be one of their main weapons – which led to the second goal. But not without some help.

Senegal’s mistakes

Norway had five clear-cut chances overall, but scored just two and missed three.

They found it especially hard to put away ‘self-created’ opportunities, but Senegal made sure to help them.

The Lions of Teranga made four errors that led to shots or goals against Landslaget. This was the second-most by any team in a game in the current World Cup, ahead only of Tunisia’s six against Sweden.

First it was Kalidou Koulibaly who had no rush at all to clear the ball and still gave it on a silver platter for Marcus Pedersen, who sent it home. Though it also felt like Mendy could have done better handling the right-back’s attempt.

Then it was the former Chelsea goalkeeper himself who gave Haaland and open net. Somehow, the No.9 hit the post.

And then Everton’s Gueye played a poor pass through the middle that in turn gave Norway a four-on-two counter attack. This time, Haaland made no mistake.

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Defensive woes continue

As we mentioned before, Norway had an easy time creating good chances, despite the struggles to put them away. But they also had a hard time defending.

Landslaget are one of just two national teams that managed to score 3+ goals in both of their World Cup games so far, alongside France. However, they conceded to both Senegal and Iraq.

While in the first game they suffered defending the right half-space, tonight it was more the left one. The Lions of Teranga’s base 4-2-3-1 became 4-1-2-3 with Pape Gueye joining Lamine Camara further forward. Both those midfielders were instrumental in performing deep, off-ball runs in the spaces between full-back and centre-back.

Norway’s zonal mid-to-low block also made it possible for them to enter the box unmarked. Aursnes was particularly slow tracking runners in the channels and didn’t return from the half-time break.

For Sarr’s first goal, it was he who attacked the right half-space. But only because Camara came from behind and got Torbjorn Heggem’s attention just enough to get him to commit to him, freeing Sarr to infiltrate between Heggem and David Moller Wolfe.

In the second, Ajer’s mistimed jump gave Sarr a window to attack in behind before Pedersen could react.

For as much as Norway find it hard to create goalscoring chances, opponents don’t have to do much to do it against them in return. One for Jordan a four for Senegal tonight.

Whenever they move into a low block, it’s easier to defend and they find more success. But that has mainly happened after getting the lead in this World Cup so far.

Of course, Stale Solbakken can always push Odegaard deeper. His 4-4-2 out of possession into a 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1 with Sander Berge between the lines do add more solidity. But that could also take a toll on their transition attacks.

Still, this is all nitpicking considering they have won both of their games and already guaranteed in the knockout stages. But they will have to worry about playing a much better opponent as soon as next Friday when they face France at Gillette Stadium.

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