Erling Haaland stars as Norway stun Brazil to reach World Cup quarter-finals

By Mark Walker, Press Association

Erling Haaland struck two late goals as Norway stunned Brazil by winning 2-1 in New Jersey to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

The Manchester City striker underlined his status as one of the world’s leading goalscorers by notching his sixth and seventh goals of the tournament in the final 11 minutes at the MetLife Stadium.

Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty was little consolation for five-time winners Brazil, for whom Bruno Guimaraes saw an early penalty saved, as they crashed out in the last 16.

Stale Solbakken’s side have progressed to the last eight for the first time in their first World Cup tournament in 28 years.

The Scandinavians, who had not lost to Brazil in four previous encounters and beat them 2-1 in the group stage at the 1998 World Cup, thought they had taken an early lead, but midfielder Patrick Berg’s effort was clearly offside.

Brazil then spurned a golden chance to open the scoring in the 14th minute when Guimaraes’s poor spot-kick was saved by Orjan Nyland after Kristoffer Ajer’s challenge on Matheus Cunha.

Moroccan-born American referee Ismail Elfath had initially waved play on, but correctly reversed his decision when asked to view the pitch-side monitor.

Nyland rescued Norway again by deflecting Gabriel Martinelli’s dangerous cross as Brazil carried the greater attacking threat.

Vinicius Junior’s low shot was well saved by Nyland, while Norway’s best first-half chance fell to Martin Odegaard, whose low goal-bound shot was also well saved by Alisson Becker.

The pace slowed considerably in the second half as the temperature approached 30 degrees, with Brazil content to let Norway dominate possession.

Brazil substitute Endrick wasted a one-on-one chance after Vinicius Junior’s superb through-ball and Bournemouth forward Rayan’s low drive was turned away by Nyland.

Haaland was a whisker away from connecting with Ajer’s brilliant cross and with the game on a knife-edge, Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti sent on Neymar for his second substitute’s appearance of the tournament.

But it was Norway who threatened next as their substitute Andreas Schjelderup was denied at the near post by Alisson following their best move of the match.

And the Scandinavians broke the deadlock soon after as Haaland powered in front of Arsenal defender Gabriel to send a superb header from Schjelderup’s pin-point cross beyond Alisson.

Haaland has now scored in his last 14 appearances for his country.

Nyland’s acrobatics preserved Norway’s lead as he somehow kept out Ajer’s misplaced back-pass before Haaland struck a game-clinching second in the 90th minute.

The City striker collected Schjelderup’s ball inside, two yards outside the penalty area and arrowed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.

Brazil were awarded a penalty deep in time added on when substitute Leo Ostigard clattered in Casemiro and although Neymar converted, it was too little, too late for the South Americans.

Haaland said in quotes reported by fifa.com: “If I get a chance or two, it usually ends up as a goal. I don’t know how I do it, but that’s how I do it, so it’s all about staying focused. I tell myself the chance will come, and then I usually know right away if I don’t score.

“I’m starting to realise now, I think, that it’s a gift from God that it goes in perfectly, perfectly right up against the post and stuff. So it’s crazy.

“We just kept pushing forward, but I hope that all the young people watching this interview, I hope that when you get a little older, you’ll see playing for Norway as the proudest thing you’ll ever do in your entire life – it’s absolutely insane.”

Ancelotti insisted he would not be stepping down after Brazil’s early exit, saying in quotes reported by the BBC: “I don’t think this is the end. I think this is the start of a new cycle.

“I think we have done a good job, but this is football and this is sport. You just have to deal with it, deal with the sadness and the taste of defeat. I am very much used to this and we will handle this. We will use it as fuel going forward.”