Haaland Double Sinks Brazil and Sends Norway Into First Quarter-Final

Key facts

• Result: Brazil 1-2 Norway, Round of 16
• Match-winner: Erling Haaland, headed goal on 79 minutes, second on cusp of stoppage time
• Haaland tally: 62 goals in 54 appearances for Norway
• Saved penalty: Ørjan Nyland stopped Bruno Guimarães in the 14th minute
• Brazil consolation: Neymar converted a stoppage-time penalty after Casemiro was fouled
• Next: Norway meet England on 11 July in Miami

How Norway turned it late

Brazil controlled the early stages and won a penalty in the 14th minute when Kristoffer Ajer fouled Matheus Cunha. Bruno Guimarães took the kick, but Ørjan Nyland dived left to push it away. After a goalless first half, Carlo Ancelotti tried to change something in his team, and Nyland remained the busier of the two goalkeepers after the break as Brazil squandered chances.

In the 67th minute, with the score still 0-0, Neymar entered the pitch. But Haaland was the one that steped into the spotlight. Twice! Haaland then struck in the 79th minute, heading in Andreas Schjelderup's cross from the left in front of Gabriel and beyond Alisson. On the edge of stoppage time he added a second, driving a shot through Danilo's legs into the left corner.

Brazil attacked in search of the equalizer goals, and managed to get a penalty in the stoppage time. Neymar took the ball and after a heated exchange with the Norwegian goalkeeper, he scored. But it was too little, too late. After the final whistle the Brazilian star sat hunched over in tears on the pitch.

Ancelotti reflects on a controlled start

Carlo Ancelotti felt his team had held the initiative before Norway's late surge. "At the beginning it seemed to me we were a controlled team," the coach said. "We were creating opportunities but it was difficult to put on too much pressure because Norway was locking its defence and applying too much was a risk."

Brazil's finishing let them down. Substitute Endrick was clean through on Nyland in the 62nd minute but dragged his effort past the 35-year-old and the left post.

What the win means for Norway

The header was Haaland's 61st goal in his 54th game for Norway. His second made it 62. Norway are playing in their first World Cup since 1998 and have now reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Haaland led the team's rowing-boat celebrations in front of the Norwegian supporters at full-time.

Norway face England in the quarter-final on 11 July in Miami.