EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.— No. 19 Norway knocked No. 5 Brazil out in the FIFA World Cup’s Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Erling Haaland got Norway on the scoreboard first in the 79th minute and then made it 2-0 in the 89th minute, completing his third brace of this World Cup. The Manchester City superstar’s seven goals puts himself in a three-way tie for the Golden Boot with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Brazil had a chance to take the lead in the 14th minute when Matheus Cunha was fouled inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty kick to them after a VAR review. However, Bruno Guimaraes’ poor spot kick was saved by Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Near the end of the first half, Norway turned the ball over on the edge of their box. Vini Jr. received a pass from Gabriel Martinelli and ripped a shot with his left-foot that was saved by Nyland.
In first half stoppage time, Nyland sent a goal kick deep into Brazil’s half of the field. Haaland occupied two defenders and when the ball settled on the ground, Norway’s captain Martin Odegaard took possession and ripped a left-footed shot that was stopped by Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
In the second half, Brazil had yet another great chance to take the lead. Vini Jr. sent a long through ball into Norway’s half for Endrick. The young budding star caught up to it on the edge of Norway’s 18-yard box. Nyland rushed Endrick who toe-poked the ball just wide of the post.
It was a very even game through the first 60 minutes, but the physicality of Erling Haaland and excellent passing would eventually break down the Brazilian defense.
The Vikings from Norway started to impose their will on the game in the 66th minute. After a Norwegian corner was cleared, Norway’s Oscar Bobb played Kristoffer Ajer into the Brazilian box with a short pass. Ajer then crossed to the backpost and Haaland’s attempt to slide into the ball was just a bit late as he got a slight touch on it as it drifted out of bounds.
In the 79th minute, Norway finally broke through. Substitute Andreas Schjelderup found space down the left wing and with his right foot crossed into the six-yard box. Haaland jumped higher than his marker and headed the ball with power into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
Brazil were not ready to give in though and a great through ball from Danilo Santos to Casemiro nearly resulted in a tap in for Neymar, but Casemiro’s cross was just a bit beyond the reach of the former F.C. Barcelona superstar.
Ten minutes later, Brazil allowed Haaland the space to step into a left-footed shot on the edge of their box that pummeled the back of the net and put the game out of reach.
Eight minutes of stoppage time were awarded by the referee and Brazil used that time to get on the scoreboard. Substitute Leo Ostigard caught Casemiro with his elbow in an aerial duel and gave the Brazilians their second penalty kick of the afternoon, which Neymar would take. Neymar stutter stepped which sent Nyland the wrong way as he side-footed the ball into right side of the net to pull one goal back for Brazil.
In the end it was too little, too late as the five-time World Cup champions bowed out of this World Cup earlier than expected.
Norway have now advanced farther than they ever have at a World Cup in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. They will await the winner of the Round of 16 match between Mexico and England scheduled for later this evening.
