Tears of joy.
That’s what was flowing down a 9-year-old’s face as he saw the seats he had for Monday’s World Cup game between his favorite team, Norway, and Senegal at MetLife Stadium.
Despite a bit of rain, Leslie VanDerau took her 9-year-old son Ezra to his first-ever World Cup match. Ezra began crying as they arrived at their seats.
“It’s so beautiful,” Ezra said while tears flowed down his face.
“This is such a big deal,” he added.
Their seats were located in a corner, close to a goal, and had a bullseye view of most of the stadium.
“As his mother, it was incredibly emotional,” VanDerau said, according to Storyful. “Ezra kept thanking me for choosing him as my plus-one, even though there was never anyone else I would have chosen. Seeing his joy made the moment unforgettable.”
Ezra was decked in a soccer-themed shirt, had a Norway bandana on his head and was screaming “Norway!” while cheering the team on with a flag.
Norway beat Senegal 3-2 thanks in large part to Erling Haaland’s two goals, both of which came in the second half.
With the two goals, Haaland increased his total to four for the tournament and became just the second player in the last 50 years to score twice in each of his first two World Cup games.
Harry Kane last accomplished the feat in 2018.
Haaland now has 24 goals in his last 12 international games, and is just one behind Messi for second in the Golden Boot Race.
In their first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway has clinched a spot in the knockout round, and first takes on France on Friday.
And you can count Ezra in for cheering his favorite team on.
“He’ll be glued to the TV cheering them on,” VanDerau said.
