Haaland stuns Brazil as Neymar hints at international farewell after World Cup heartbreak
Norway reach last eight after dramatic victory in New Jersey
NEW JERSEY – Erling Haaland struck twice in the closing stages as Norway produced one of the biggest shocks of the FIFA World Cup by defeating Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The dramatic victory at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford ended Brazil's campaign at the last-16 stage, marking the five-time champions' earliest World Cup exit since 1990. The night ended with an emotional Neymar suggesting his international career may have come to an end after scoring a late consolation penalty.
Norway's historic triumph owed as much to goalkeeper Orjan Nyland's extraordinary performance as it did to Haaland's clinical finishing. The goalkeeper denied Brazil repeatedly, including saving a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes, before Haaland delivered two decisive goals in the final 11 minutes.
Haaland’s heroics
Haaland's late brace took his tally to seven goals for the tournament, drawing level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Norway will now face either co-hosts Mexico or England in the quarter-finals in Miami on July 11.
For Brazil, who appointed Carlo Ancelotti in an attempt to end a 24-year wait for another World Cup title, the defeat continued an unwanted trend. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup in which the Selecao were eliminated by European opposition. Their last failure to reach at least the quarter-finals came 36 years ago, when Argentina knocked them out 1-0 in the round of 16.
"This is just an insane day," Haaland said after the final whistle. "It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history."
Brazil made one change to the side that defeated Japan in the previous round, with Gabriel Martinelli replacing the injured Lucas Paqueta. Norway, meanwhile, welcomed back Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson after he recovered from a thigh injury that had ruled him out of the previous two matches.
Patrick Berg thought he had handed Norway an early lead inside three minutes, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside in the build-up.
Nyland shines
Brazil were handed a golden opportunity to take control after Kristoffer Ajer brought down Matheus Cunha inside the penalty area. Referee Ismail Elfath initially waved away appeals before VAR intervened and awarded the spot-kick.
Guimaraes stepped up, but Nyland guessed correctly, diving low to his left to push away the Newcastle United midfielder's penalty.
The Norway goalkeeper continued his remarkable display moments later. After Martinelli's low cross flashed across the face of goal, Nyland got a vital touch to prevent Guimaraes from converting from close range. He then produced another excellent save with an outstretched leg after Martin Odegaard lost possession near his own penalty area, denying Vinicius Junior.
Although Haaland struggled to influence the opening period, he nearly helped Norway break the deadlock before half-time. The striker battled past Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos before the ball fell kindly to Odegaard, whose effort was well saved by Alisson Becker.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken reshaped his attack at the interval by introducing Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup in place of Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth.
Brazil responded by bringing on Endrick, and the teenager almost made an instant impact after being played through by an exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass from Vinicius. However, Endrick lifted his finish wide as Nyland rushed off his line.
Nyland's outstanding evening continued as he clawed away a powerful strike from Rayan before making another superb stop from Guimaraes, although the offside flag was eventually raised.
The atmosphere intensified when Neymar entered the match in the 67th minute to loud cheers from the predominantly Brazilian supporters.
Yet it was Norway who finally found the breakthrough. Schjelderup delivered an inviting cross from the left and Haaland rose highest to power a header beyond Alisson and into the corner.
Brazil threw players forward in search of an equaliser, but Nyland continued to frustrate them, even producing an astonishing fingertip save while backpedalling to prevent Ajer from accidentally diverting the ball into his own net.
Haaland then appeared to settle the contest in the 90th minute, drilling a low finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area to double Norway's advantage.
Brazil were awarded another penalty deep into stoppage time after Casemiro was caught by an elbow following an altercation involving Neymar and Nyland. Neymar calmly converted from the spot in the 10th minute of added time, but there was no time left for a comeback.
Emotional farewell
The 34-year-old forward collapsed to the turf in tears after the final whistle before later indicating that the match may have been his last in Brazil colours.
"I tried, I tried... Now it's over! I started here, I finished here," Neymar said, referring to the stadium in New Jersey where he made his Brazil debut in a friendly against the United States in 2010.
Should Neymar formally confirm his international retirement, he would finish his Brazil career with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances. Despite winning numerous club honours, his only senior international trophy remains the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Brazil's exit also means the nation remains without a World Cup title since 2002. If they fail to lift the trophy again in 2030, it will mark a 28-year wait for a sixth world crown, the longest drought since the country won its first World Cup.