Erling Haaland’s heroics propel Norway to stunning upset of Brazil as World Cup run reaches quarterfinals
The Norwegians were outnumbered — playing in a building filled with an ocean of yellow and puddles of red, playing against a nation home to more than 200 million more citizens, playing an opponent that has won a record five World Cups and had made eight consecutive quarterfinal appearances on the sport’s grandest stage.
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But Norway had the man who makes anything possible.
The Vikings will march on in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years after Erling Haaland’s 80th-minute header, and 90th-minute blast, delivered his homeland its greatest victory ever, sending the Norwegians to their first World Cup quarterfinal after pulling off a 2-1 upset of Brazil on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Haaland, who now has seven goals in four games in the World Cup, is even with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.
After a weeks-long odyssey in which Norwegians have invaded multiple cities and provided one of the most delightful and defining images of this World Cup — via imaginary oars, infectious chants and thumping drums — the “Viking Row” vessel will next head to Miami to face the winner of England-Mexico on July 11, while Brazil will head home after its earliest World Cup elimination since 1990.
Norway, coming off its first knockout stage win against Ivory Coast, had failed to qualify for the previous six World Cups — as well as all but one World Cup from 1930 to 1990 — but strangely entered as the only nation that Brazil had never defeated in a previous matchup in international play, including a stunning upset in the group stage in 1998.
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Norway has won the hearts of millions — growing its fanbase during takeovers of Times Square, Citi Field and the ‘7’ train — and entered with confidence, having won each of its three World Cup matches featuring its regular starters (who were rested against France in the group-stage finale).
Norway had an apparent goal by Peter Berg in the third minute wiped away by offsides, but Brazil followed by fumbling an even greater opportunity in the 14th minute, when Matheus Cunha was taken down by Kristoffer Ajer in the box.
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Bruno Guimaraes, chosen to take the penalty kick, delivered a poor strike after taking himself out of rhythm with a stutter step, allowing Orjan Nyland to make a diving save.
Brazil had seemingly countless opportunities to silence the ever-optimistic pockets of red, attempting to generate momentum with each row of their invisible and potent ship.
But the memories of Ronaldo and Rivaldo and Romario carried absolutely no weight — or perhaps too much weight — during several key sequences, including when Vinicius Jr. threaded a beautiful pass between two defenders, only for 19-year-old Endrick to push a breakaway wide of the net in the second half.
Haaland, 25, was invisible for much of the match — recording the fewest touches of any starter — but the 6-foot-5 force from Manchester City (who scored twice against Senegal at MetLife Stadium) ascended in the most important moment of his career, breaking a scoreless tie.
His second goal prompted countless Brazilian fans to leave early, leaving a star-studded crowd — featuring Jalen Brunson, Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Breanna Stewart — speechless.
Neymar cut the deficit in half with a penalty kick in stoppage time, but the aging, injury-prone Brazilian demigod turned substitute couldn’t turn back time or add more time to the running clock.
This was Haaland’s time.
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