By Danjuma Amodu
Two late goals from Norway’s Erling Haaland on Sunday knocked out mighty Brazil, sending the five-time World Cup champions home in the Round of 16 and sending Norway to the quarterfinals for the first time in the country’s history.
The first goal, in the 79th minute, broke a long stalemate as the ascendant Norwegian team held off a Brazilian side that is no longer the World Cup powerhouse its fans expect. The second, scored with his left foot, came in stoppage time at the end of normal time. Brazil pulled one back from the penalty spot in the final minute, making the final score 2-1.
In front of a predominantly Brazilian crowd, and with the haze of a pre-match pyrotechnic display still dissipating, Norway thought they had taken an early lead through Patrick Berg in the opening minutes, but the goal was quickly ruled offside.
A pivotal moment came midway through the first half when Matheus Cunha was brought down by Kristoffer Ajer. The referee initially waved play on, but after a VAR review, a penalty was awarded to Brazil. The crowd demanded a clear decision, but Bruno Guimarães’ stutter-step penalty was saved, leaving the game scoreless heading into the first hydration break.
Haaland’s late intervention proved decisive. His 79th-minute strike broke Brazilian resistance, and he sealed the result deep into added time. Brazil’s late penalty made for a tense finish, but Norway held on.
The result marks a reversal of their previous meeting at the 1998 World Cup group stage, when Brazil defeated Norway 2-1 to advance. That loss kept Norway from progressing then. This time, the Scandinavians got their revenge on the biggest stage, ending Brazil’s tournament early and writing their own chapter in World Cup history with a first-ever place in the last eight.
