Norway has progressed to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, following a 2-1 victory over Brazil. The decisive goals came from Erling Haaland, who scored a brace in the final minutes of the match, held at New Jersey Stadium in New York.
Haaland’s goals, scored on 79 and 90 minutes, secured the win for Ståle Solbakken‘s side. Neymar scored a consolation penalty for Brazil in stoppage time. This result marks Norway‘s first appearance in the World Cup since 1998 and their first-ever knockout stage victory in the tournament.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The match saw an early disallowed goal for Norway‘s Patrick Berg in the fourth minute due to offside. Later in the first half, Brazil‘s Bruno Guimaraes missed a penalty, which was saved by Norway‘s goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. This was Brazil‘s first missed penalty in a World Cup game since 1986.
Despite Brazil having better chances in the initial hour, Norway maintained possession. The turning point came after half-time when coach Ståle Solbakken made a double substitution, including bringing on Andreas Schjelderup. Schjelderup later provided the cross for Haaland‘s first goal, an unstoppable header past Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes.
Haaland then sealed the victory with a powerful low strike from outside the box as full-time approached. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Nyland also made several crucial saves throughout the game, including from Vinicius Junior and Guimaraes, contributing significantly to Norway‘s success.
Haaland’s Impact and National Celebrations
Erling Haaland‘s two goals brought his tally for the tournament to seven in four World Cup matches. He is now level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. His country’s manager, Ståle Solbakken, described the win as “the greatest day in Norwegian football history,” while Haaland himself called it “one of the sickest days” in Norway‘s history.
The victory sparked widespread celebrations in Norway, with tens of thousands gathering in the streets of Oslo in the early hours. The celebrations included an impromptu gathering at the royal palace, where fans were greeted by Crown Prince Haakon. Haaland expressed a wish to have been part of these celebrations.
This achievement is particularly notable as Norway had not participated in a World Cup since 1998 and had never won a knockout game in the tournament before this match. Haaland has now scored 62 goals in 54 matches for his country and has found the net in each of his last 14 competitive encounters for Norway, scoring 27 times in that period.
Brazil’s Disappointment and Future Outlook
For Brazil, the defeat marks their earliest exit from the World Cup since 1990, ending their dream of a sixth title. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who became Brazil manager just over a year ago, acknowledged the team’s profound disappointment. He stated that despite the defeat, the team must continue to improve and that this marks the beginning of a new cycle for the Seleção, focusing on drafting a new generation of players.
Neymar, who scored Brazil‘s only goal from a penalty in the 100th minute, appeared to hint at his international retirement after the match. This goal was his first for Brazil since 2023. Brazil‘s game plan, according to Ancelotti, involved allowing Norway possession and then breaking quickly, though it ultimately did not yield the desired result.
Norway will now face England in the quarter-finals on Saturday 11 July at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens. The England squad includes Blues Elliot Anderson, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, and James Trafford.
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Source: mancity.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
