Haaland by Matt Oldfield

Author:Matt Oldfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Templar

CHAPTER 15

ON

CLOUD NINE

A chance to play for Norway in the Under-20 World Cup was a dream come true for Erling, prompting calls to all his friends and family. But as he trudged into the meeting room at the team hotel after the first week of the tournament, the excitement had mostly worn off. He sat down next to teammates Jens Petter Hauge and Kristian Thorstvedt, who both looked as disappointed as he was.

Norway had lost their first two games, against Uruguay and New Zealand, and that meant they would be making an early exit from the tournament. All that was left was a final group game against Honduras.

Coach Johansen walked to the front of the room and the conversations stopped. ‘None of us wanted to be in this position, but keep your heads up. We’re still playing for our country and the Norway shirt. Let’s at least end on a high note.’

By the end of the meeting, Erling felt better and he could see that his teammates were ready to put in an improved performance.

‘I’m counting the minutes,’ Erling told Alfie on the phone that night. ‘We’ll be a different team. You’ll see.’

As he walked onto the pitch, Erling took a deep breath and looked around the stadium. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end throughout the national anthem, and he clapped his hands excitedly as he stood on the edge of the centre circle ready for kick-off. ‘Let’s go, boys!’

Erling was in the middle of the action from the very start, closing down defenders and getting the Norway fans up out of their seats. Inside the first ten minutes, Jens broke away on the left wing and immediately looked up to ping the ball across the box. Erling was already a step ahead of his marker and the cross was perfect. He side-footed a first-time shot past the goalkeeper.

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a start! Erling had an extra spring in his step now and he could see the nerves on the Honduras defenders’ faces every time he made a run. Another ball looped over the top of the defence and Erling peeled away to make space. He cushioned the pass with one touch and then hammered an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

‘This is more like it!’ he yelled as Jens and Kristian raced over to celebrate.

Erling completed his hat-trick before half-time. He used his pace to latch onto a through ball and touch it past the goalkeeper before being tripped to the ground. Penalty! Erling was up in a flash to grab the ball and place it on the spot. No-one was taking this chance away from him. He carefully marked out his run-up, then stroked the spot-kick calmly into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before half-time, Erling added a fourth goal with another thumping shot. Coach Johansen high-fived Erling as he walked into the dressing room. ‘Terrific work, Erling,’ he said. ‘You’re ripping them apart with your movement.’

In the second half, the chances kept coming as Honduras continued to fade.

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