Tears of pure joy streamed down the face of a nine-year-old boy as he arrived at MetLife Stadium for Monday’s World Cup clash between his beloved Norway and Senegal.
Despite the damp weather, Leslie VanDerau brought her son, Ezra, to experience his very first World Cup match. The magnitude of the moment became clear the moment they reached their seats, leaving the young fan in tears.
“It’s so beautiful,” Ezra remarked through his tears, adding, “This is such a big deal.”
The pair were seated in a corner near the goal, offering a panoramic view of the stadium action.
“As his mother, it was incredibly emotional,” VanDerau shared via Storyful. “Ezra kept thanking me for choosing him as my plus-one, even though there was no one else I would have rather had with me. Seeing his joy made the moment truly unforgettable.”
Dressed in soccer attire and a Norway bandana, Ezra enthusiastically cheered for his team, waving a flag and shouting “Norway!” throughout the match.
Norway secured a 3-2 victory over Senegal, driven largely by a standout performance from Erling Haaland, who netted two goals in the second half.
With his brace, Haaland brought his tournament total to four goals. He became only the second player in the last five decades to score twice in each of his first two World Cup appearances, a feat last achieved by Harry Kane in 2018.
Haaland has now recorded 24 goals in his last 12 international appearances, placing him just one goal behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Marking their first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway has successfully advanced to the knockout stage, where they are scheduled to face France this Friday.
Ezra is certainly ready for the next round. “He’ll be glued to the TV cheering them on,” VanDerau said.
