GRIM UP NORSE

Hoibraten hell as Haaland is forced out

- SIMON MULLOCK

IT was no real surprise that a Norwegian got himself on the scoresheet as Manchester City reached the Club World Cup final.

But it was Urawa centre-back Marius Hoibraten rather than Erling Haaland who found the back of the net, bagging an own goal as the Premier League champions strolled through to meet Brazil’s Fluminense in Friday’s showpiece game in Saudi Arabia.

Hoibraten missed the birth of his son last week in the hope that he would get the chance to lock horns with his world-famous countryman.

Instead, he put City ahead with one blundering intervention and then got a deflection on the Bernardo Silva shot which brought the Blues their third goal.