Elyounoussi's brace boosts Norway's World Cup hopes
Mohamed Elyounoussi scored both goals as Norway took a step closer to the World Cup with a crucial 2-0 victory over Montenegro in Oslo.
Without star striker Erling Haaland through injury, Elyounoussi filled the void for his country and made the breakthrough after 29 minutes like a seasoned poacher.
When Stefan Strandberg headed the ball back across goal from a deep cross, Elyounoussi was quickest to react inside the six-yard box, stooping to nod home the opener.
Norway kept pushing for a second but would have to wait until deep into stoppage time for the killer goal to arrive, shortly after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men.
With Marko Vešović dismissed for a second bookable offence, the hosts took immediate advantage to wrap things up as Elyounoussi completed his brace.
Receiving the ball from Dennis Johnsen, the forward curled a brilliant right-footed shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The result leaves Norway two points behind group leaders Netherlands and two points ahead of Turkey in third, with the group winners guaranteed a place in Qatar and the runners-up entering the play-offs.
Elsewhere, Tino Livramento impressed on his first start for England Under-21s, who edged past Andorra courtesy of a solitary second-half goal from Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe.
Livramento played the full 90 minutes at right-back, earning his third cap at Under-21 level, but the Young Lions struggled to break down a stubborn home team.
The dismissal of Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster did not help their cause, but England claimed the points thanks to Smith Rowe’s 67th-minute winner.
