Haaland Brace Powers Norway Past Brazil Into World Cup Quarter-finals

Erling Haaland extended a stunning scoring streak on the international stage, hitting two late goals as Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The Manchester City striker struck in the 79th and 90th minutes, securing a last-eight tie on 11 July against either England or Mexico. Neymar replied with a stoppage-time penalty that arrived too late to change the outcome.

Haaland’s double meant a likely final World Cup appearance for Neymar ended in disappointment, despite a 100th-minute spot-kick that gave Brazil faint hope. The penalty followed a lengthy VAR review after Leo Ostigard was judged to have elbowed Casemiro. Norway then survived the final moments, closing out another statement result against one of international football’s most decorated teams.

The Norway striker’s performance carried major statistical weight. Haaland became the eighth European player to score in each of a first four World Cup matches, and the first to do so since Christian Vieiri for Italy in 1998. Haaland has also found the net in 14 straight competitive internationals for Norway, collecting 27 goals in that spell across qualifiers, tournament finals and play-off games.

Haaland joined another select group by striking twice against Brazil at a World Cup. He is the first player to score two goals in a finals match against the Selecao since Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle both did so in Germany’s 7-1 semi-final win in 2014. Brazil were again left regretting missed chances, especially a failed first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes.

Norway initially believed they led when Patrick Berg drove Alexander Sorloth’s cutback into the top-right corner. The celebrations halted after a VAR check, which showed Sorloth offside when released by Martin Odegaard. That reversal was quickly followed by drama at the other end when Matheus Cunha drew a penalty after contact from Kristoffer Ajer inside the area.

Referee Ismail Elfath pointed to the spot after reviewing replays, giving Guimaraes the chance to open the scoring. The Newcastle United midfielder used a hesitant run-up but saw the attempt from 12 yards pushed away by Orjan Nyland. It was Guimaraes’ first penalty for Brazil, after scoring both of his previous spot-kicks for Newcastle in the Premier League last season.

Brazil increased the pressure before half-time and just after the scheduled hydration break. Nyland reacted sharply to stop a tight-angled effort from Gabriel Martinelli, then denied Vinicius Junior, who had robbed Odegaard inside the Norway box. Carlo Ancelotti sent on Endrick in the 58th minute, and the substitute soon raced clear from a Vinicius pass, but Endrick guided his shot wide of the left post.

The game turned towards Norway in the final stages. With 11 minutes remaining, Andreas Schjelderup sent a lofted cross into the area and Haaland climbed above Gabriel Magalhaes to guide a firm header into the bottom-right corner. Brazil nearly replied when an attempted Ajer clearance spun towards the Norway goal, only for Nyland to tip the ball onto the post, before a Casemiro cross narrowly missed both Vinicius and Neymar.

Erling Haaland World Cup win and Brazil knockout trends

Haaland then delivered the decisive moment in the 90th minute. Schjelderup again found space and slipped a pass into the striker, who drove forward and lashed a powerful left-footed shot from outside the area beyond Alisson into the corner. That second goal ultimately ensured Norway’s passage to a quarter-final appearance on 11 July, extending a memorable tournament run.

Neymar reduced the deficit deep into stoppage time, scoring from the spot in the 100th minute on a 15th World Cup appearance for Brazil. The penalty followed Ostigard’s foul on Casemiro and came after Brazil had missed earlier opportunities. Neymar’s late goal could not mask worrying trends for the Selecao in knockout play against European nations at recent tournaments.

Brazil have now failed to win any of the last four World Cup matches in which the score was level at half-time, recording two draws and two defeats in those fixtures. They have also been eliminated from, or lost, seven consecutive World Cup knockout ties against European opponents, a sequence stretching back to victory over Germany in the 2002 final, and that pattern continues against Norway.