Edi Umoh
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway sealed a stunning 2-1 upset over Brazil on Sunday to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Erling Haaland struck twice as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 in an entertaining international friendly, with the Manchester City striker proving the difference despite a dramatic stoppage-time penalty converted by Neymar.
Brazil dominated possession and created the clearer openings early on, but squandered a golden chance to take the lead when Bruno Guimarães saw his 14th-minute penalty brilliantly saved by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland after a VAR review awarded a spot-kick.
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Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Martinelli and Rayan all threatened before the break, while Martin Ødegaard and Haaland tested Alisson at the other end as both sides went into half-time deadlocked.
Haaland’s brace
Norway emerged sharper after the restart, with substitute Andreas Schjelderup injecting fresh energy into the attack.
Brazil responded by introducing Neymar and Endrick in a bid to unlock the Norwegian defence, but it was the Norwegians who broke the deadlock in the 79th minute.
Schjelderup floated an inviting cross into the penalty area, where Haaland rose above the defenders to power a header beyond Alisson for his first goal of the evening.
Brazil searched desperately for an equaliser, with Casemiro firing narrowly wide and Neymar repeatedly probing from set pieces, but Norway remained disciplined at the back.
Haaland sealed victory in the 90th minute when Schjelderup again turned provider, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the Manchester City striker, who calmly finished into the bottom corner to complete his brace and put Norway 2-0 ahead.
The closing moments produced one final twist.
Deep into 12 minutes of added time, referee Ismail Elfath awarded Brazil another penalty after Leo Østigård was adjudged to have fouled Neymar inside the area.
Neymar, who had earlier been booked for a late challenge, stepped up in the 100th minute and confidently converted from the spot to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
However, there was little time remaining after the restart, and the final whistle soon confirmed a memorable victory for Norway.
Haaland’s clinical finishing and Schjelderup’s two assists proved decisive, while Nyland’s first-half penalty save laid the foundation for an impressive Norwegian performance.
For Brazil, the defeat exposed missed opportunities, with Guimarães’ failed penalty and several squandered chances proving costly despite a spirited late rally led by Neymar.
AFP
