THE FUSE

By Razeen Gutta

Jude Bellingham did it again. The England midfielder scored twice, including a late extra-time winner, as the Three Lions fought back to beat Norway 2-1 on Saturday and reach the World Cup semi-finals.

In Miami’s searing heat, Norway stunned England in their first ever quarter-final. Andreas Schjelderup lashed home after 20 minutes to give the underdogs a shock lead and leave Thomas Tuchel’s side rattled.

But Bellingham answered just before half-time. Collecting Anthony Gordon’s pass, he drove into the box and finished coolly to level. It was his fifth goal of the tournament and a reminder of his match-winning double against Mexico in the last 16.

Norway thought they had retaken the lead through Torbjorn Heggem early in the second half, only for VAR to rule out the goal for an Erling Haaland push on Elliott Anderson. Kristoffer Ajer then crashed a header off the bar as the game swung wildly.

Both teams were drained by the 30 degree heat and humidity, but England found the breakthrough in extra-time.

Orjan Nyland spilled a Morgan Rogers shot from distance and Bellingham was first to react, sweeping in his sixth of the World Cup.

A late England penalty was overturned by VAR after Djed Spence was judged to have started the contact. By then Norway’s spirit was gone, with Haaland watching from the bench after being taken off in extra-time.

England now face Argentina on Wednesday for a shot at a first World Cup final since 1966.

Pictured above: Jude Bellingham

Source: @england