Norway have reached the last eight of the FIFA World Cup for the first time, downing Brazil on the back of an Erling Haaland brace and a brilliant Orjan Nyland display.
Brazil 1-2 Norway
Brazil goal: Neymar pen (90+10)
Norway goals: Haaland (79, 90)
New York New Jersey was hosting its penultimate match of the tournament, with the next fixture being the 19 July final. Norway stand now just two matches from reaching that decider, having downed Brazil in the Round of 16, on the back of Erling Haaland’s sixth and seventh tournament goals. Those goals move him level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi as the race for the adidas Golden Boot heats up.
In mid-afternoon sunshine, the Selecao survived an early Patrick Berg chance before they had a golden opportunity to go ahead just shy of the quarter hour. Kristoffer Ajer mistimed a challenge on Matheus Cunha and after a VAR review, Brazil were awarded a penalty. Initially, Vinicius Junior had possession of the adidas TRIONDA before passing it to Bruno Guimaraes, who saw his shot saved down low to his left by the firm hands of Orjan Nyland.
The 35-year-old Norwegian keeper was a keen handball player in his youth, but it was his legs that denied firstly Gabriel Martinelli and then Vinicius Junior to send the teams to the break with the score unbroken.
One of Norway’s chief creative threats, Antonio Nusa, was withdrawn at the interval but it was a Brazilian substitute, Endrick, that spurned a huge chance to break the deadlock. Fifty-two seconds after his arrival, the teenage forward was sent through on goal by a surgical Vinicius Junior pass, only for a heavy first touch to lead to a mis-placed shot.
The Volda Viking then produced another pair of fine saves to thwart firstly Rayan and then Bruno Guimaraes before Norway struck.
Andreas Schjelderup, the man who came on for Nusa, broke free down the left after a slick seven-pass sequence and stood up the perfect cross for Haaland to smash a downward header past Alisson.
Haaland then grabbed a second right at the end of regulation time as he steered a shot through the legs of Danilo and past a diving Alisson to spark jubilant scenes among the throng of Norway supporters. A late Neymar penalty, coming in the tenth minute of stoppage time, was nothing more than a consolation as Brazil made their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, while Norway reach the last eight for the first time.
Stats
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Erling Haaland has now scored seven goals in four FIFA World Cup matches
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Haaland has scored 62 times in 54 matches for his country
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Haaland has scored in each of his last 14 competitive encounters for Norway, scoring 27 times
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Quotes
“I think everyone who’s a Norwegian citizen can enjoy this evening. That was a real thriller—it could have gone either way. But we played a solid, tactical game. We had a few turnovers that could have cost us. But all in all, it went our way, and we should be damn proud of that.” “Why did it go our way? Well, we’re playing—it’s a bit like Manchester City versus Real Madrid. They sit back and rely on counterattacks, and we have to wear them down. Because that’s what we’re best at, and I think we did a good job of it.” Stale Solbakken, Norway coach
“That’s just how it usually goes. 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.” Erling Haaland, Norway forward