LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Erling Haaland scored a brace in Norway’s 2-1 round of 16 victory against Brazil to clinch a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter finals.
Norway started the match in rapid fashion and got an early opener in New Jersey New York Stadium.
Patrick Berg put the ball into the back of the net with just three minutes on the clock.
However, the offside flag went up because Alexander Sorloth who assisted the goal received the ball in an offside position.
The Selecao also got a chance to take the lead when Kristoffer Ajer failed to get to the ball first.
The Norwegian completely missed the ball and tripped Mateus Cunha, who was goal bound in the box.
VAR sent the referee to the monitor, where he concluded it was a stonewall penalty.
Vinícius Júnior, poised to take the spot kick eventually handed the ball over to Bruno Guimarães.
Guimarães made a stuttering run up to deceive Ørjan Nyland, but the keeper guessed the right way.
The penalty miss meant Guimarães became the first Brazil player to fail to convert a World Cup penalty in 40 years (excluding shootouts).
The first half ended in a stalemate as both teams struggled to convert their opportunities.
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The second half on the other hand was a different story as Haaland finally broke the deadlock.
Haaland outmuscled Gabriel Magalhães before heading Andreas Schjelderup cross into the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later Haaland extended the lead as he hammered a shot that flew past Alisson from outside the box.
The Selecao were awarded a penalty when Leo Ostigard elbowed Casemiro’s face in the box.
Substitute Neymar dispatched the penalty, but it was no more than a consolation goal as the match ended 2-1in favour of Landslaget.
Norway will now face the winner between England and Mexico in the quarter final.
