ERLING HAALAND showed he is matching Borussia Dortmund strike-partner Jadon Sancho all the way – as his spectacular double led Norway’s 5-1 rout of Northern Ireland.
And if the two super-starlets are learning from each other, then Haaland is also copying his childhood hero Michu – cupping one ear as he ran off to salute his extra-special first goal.
Norway’s Dortmund attacker Erling Haaland thumps home his first-time finish after seven minutes at Windsor ParkCredit: Pacemaker Press
Norway’s two-goal hero Erling Haaland showed why he is rated as one of the world’s top young strikersCredit: Reuters
The 20-year-old aped ex-Swansea frontman Michu after a seventh-minute strike that highlighted his astonishing instincts from seemingly any sight of the net.
Despite the ball coming across to him on the right of the penalty area D, Haaland still struck an instant 25-yard left-footer into the opposite corner.
Not surprisingly, he was linked with compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United before leaving RB Salzburg in January this year to blitz goal records for Dortmund.
And now it is club-mate Sancho who is United’s top long-term target.
But at least for the moment the same-aged duo are giving their German team 20:20 vision in front of goal.
So Dortmund must be hoping to mount a serious challenge to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga dominance.
But sadly for Northern Ireland on Monday night it was Norway who dictated at Windsor Park.
Mohamed Elyounoussi’s opener was cancelled out by Middlesbrough midfielder Paddy McNair before Haaland restored Norway’s lead in a breathtaking start.
Crystal Palace forward Alexander Sorloth, now on loan at Trabzonspor, made it 3-1 on 19 minutes.
Then Haaland and Sorloth completed the thrashing by the hour mark.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
