Erling Haaland struck a sensational brace as Norway scripted one of the greatest victories in their football history, shocking five-time champions Brazil 2-1 at New Jersey Stadium on Monday (IST) to reach the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.
The result also marked Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990, when they were knocked out by arch-rivals Argentina in the Round of 16.
Norway are now just two wins away from a historic World Cup final after eliminating one of the tournament favourites. Haaland’s sixth and seventh goals of the tournament also drew him level with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in the race for the adidas Golden Boot.
The 25-year-old striker has now scored 62 goals in just 54 appearances for Norway, equalling the Scandinavian international scoring record held by his childhood idol Zlatan Ibrahimović, who reached the same tally in 122 matches. Haaland has also found the net in each of his last 14 competitive matches for Norway, scoring an astonishing 27 goals during that run.
Norway made an aggressive start and thought they had taken the lead inside three minutes when Patrick Berg found the roof of the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Brazil had a golden opportunity to go ahead soon after when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, but goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland produced a superb save to keep the scores level.
The breakthrough finally arrived just before the interval. Andreas Schjelderup delivered a teasing cross that Haaland headed home before the Manchester City striker doubled Norway’s advantage moments later with a composed finish from 16 metres.
Brazil pushed forward desperately in the closing stages and pulled one back through Neymar’s penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but it proved only a consolation as Norway sealed a famous victory to book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.