EAST RUTHERFORD: Erling Haaland scored two late goals to send Norway through to a first World Cup quarter-final with a stunning 2-1 win over Brazil that condemned the five-time champions to their earliest exit since 1990.
Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a sensational performance, saving a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes, before Haaland struck twice in the final 11 minutes to shock Brazil at the MetLife Stadium.
Neymar pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time with Brazil’s second spot-kick of the game.
Haaland’s brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament as Norway book a showdown against either co-hosts Mexico or England in Miami on July 11.
For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth tournament in a row in which they have been knocked out by European opposition.
The last time Brazil failed to reach at least the quarter-finals was 36 years ago, when they lost 1-0 to arch-rivals Argentina in the last 16.
“This is just an insane day,” Haaland said. “It is one of the craziest days in Norwegian history.”
Gabriel Martinelli was rewarded for scoring the stoppage-time winner against Japan in the previous round as the Arsenal winger replaced the injured Lucas Paqueta in the lone change to Brazil’s line-up.
Norway were boosted by the return of Julian Ryerson, the Borussia Dortmund defender back in good form after missing the last two games with a thigh injury.
Patrick Berg thought he had given Norway the lead inside three minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
After a rocky start, Brazil won a penalty when Kristoffer Ajer clattered into Matheus Cunha in the box.
The Brazilians were furious when referee Ismail Elfath initially waved away their appeals, but VAR intervened and the decision was overturned.
Guimaraes stepped up but Nyland guessed right and dived low to his left to push away the Newcastle midfielder’s tame penalty.
Nyland again came to Norway’s rescue, getting a decisive touch on Martinelli’s low drive as it flashed across goal to deny Guimaraes a simple tap-in.
When Martin Odegaard lost possession on the edge of his own half, Nyland once again saved Norway when he stuck out a leg to thwart Vinicius Junior.
Haaland had struggled to make a significant impact, but his strength created a brilliant opening for Norway before the break.
The striker caused problems for Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos in the Brazilian defence, before the ball broke kindly for Odegaard, whose effort was well saved by Alisson Becker.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken brought on Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup at the break for Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth, but it was the introduction of Endrick that changed the game almost immediately.
Vinicius slipped Endrick through on goal with a lovely off-foot pass, only for the teenager to think wide as Nyland came out to shut him down.
Nyland continued to frustrate Brazil, producing a fine save to turn away Rayan’s ferocious strike, before making another excellent stop to deny Guimaraes, even though the offside flag went up.
Neymar’s arrival in the 67th minute drew huge roars from the largely pro-Brazilian crowd.
However, it was Norway that finally broke the deadlock, and it came through an inevitable source.
Schjelderup whipped in a cross from the left and Haaland soared over Gabriel to head into the corner.
As Brazil desperately chased an equaliser, an incredible fingertip save from a backward Nyland prevented Ajer from looping the ball into his own net.
Haaland gave Norway breathing room when he hammered low into the corner from the edge of the box in the 90th minute.
It proved crucial when Neymar converted a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time, before an inappropriate spat with ‘keeper Nyland after an elbow on Casemiro.
Neymar collapsed on the pitch in tears at the end, his career in a Brazilian shirt seemingly over.
