EAST RUTHERFORD: Erling Haaland scored two late goals to send Norway into their 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.
Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a sensational performance, saving a Bruno Guimaraes penalty in the first half before Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes to shock Brazil at MetLife Stadium.
Neymar scored a goal in added time with Brazil’s second penalty of the game.
Haaland’s brace put him level with Lionel Messi with seven goals in the tournament, as Norway booked a showdown against co-hosts Mexico or England in Miami on July 11.
For Brazil, which hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth consecutive tournament in which it has been eliminated by a European rival.
The last time Brazil failed to reach at least the quarterfinals was 36 years ago, when they lost 1-0 to archrivals Argentina in the round of 16.
“This is just a crazy day,” Haaland said. “It’s one of the craziest days in Norwegian history.”
Gabriel Martinelli was rewarded for scoring the extra-time winner against Japan in the previous round, when the Arsenal winger replaced the injured Lucas Paquetá in the only change to Brazil’s lineup.
Norway was boosted by the return of Julian Ryerson, the Borussia Dortmund defender recovered after missing the last two games with a thigh injury.
Patrick Berg thought he had given Norway the lead after three minutes, but his attempt was disallowed for offside in the build-up.
After a difficult start, Brazil won a penalty when Kristoffer Ajer collided with Matheus Cunha in the box.
The Brazilians were left furious when referee Ismail Elfath initially rejected their appeals, but the VAR intervened and the decision was overturned.
Guimaraes stepped forward but Nyland got it right, diving to his left to deflect the Newcastle midfielder’s tame penalty.
Nyland came to Norway’s rescue again, giving a crucial touch to Martinelli’s low shot that crossed the goal, denying Guimaraes a simple touch.
When Martin Odegaard lost possession on the edge of his own area, Nyland once again saved Norway by sticking out a leg to thwart Vinicius Junior.
Haaland had struggled to make a significant impact but his strength created a glorious opening for Norway before the break.
The forward caused problems for Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos in the Brazilian defense before the ball broke kindly for Odegaard, whose shot was well saved by Alisson Becker.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken brought on Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup at half-time for Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth, but it was the introduction of Endrick that almost changed the game immediately.
Vinicius slid Endrick towards goal with a delightful pass with the outside of his foot, only for the teenager to deflect as Nyland came out to close it down.
Nyland continued to frustrate Brazil, making a good save to deflect Rayan’s fierce shot before making another excellent save to deny Guimaraes a goal, although the offside flag was raised.
Neymar’s arrival in the 67th minute caused huge roars from the mostly pro-Brazil crowd.
However, it was Norway that finally broke the deadlock, and it did so through an inevitable source.
Schjelderup sent in a cross from the left and Haaland rose above Gabriel to head into the corner.
As Brazil desperately chased an equalizer, an incredible save from a retreating Nyland prevented Ajer from putting the ball into his own goal.
Haaland gave Norway some breathing room when he fired low into the corner from the edge of the area in the 90th minute.
It proved vital when Neymar converted a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time, preceded by an unseemly fight with goalkeeper Nyland, after elbowing Casemiro.
Neymar fell to the grass crying at the end, his career in the Brazil shirt seemingly over.
