East Rutherford, New Jersey —
Two late goals from Norway’s Erling Haaland on Sunday knocked out mighty Brazil, sending the five-time World Cup champions home in the Round of 16 and advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time.
The first goal, in the 79th minute, broke a long stalemate as the ascendant Norwegian team held off a Brazilian team that is no longer the World Cup powerhouse that their fans expect them to be. The second, scored with his left foot, came right at the end of normal time. Brazil scored a penalty in the final minute of the game, making the final score 2-1.
In front of a predominantly Brazilian crowd and with the haze of a pre-match pyrotechnic display still dissipating, Norway seemed to leap out to a lead in the first few minutes with a goal by Patrick Berg, but it was quickly ruled offside.
A mistake from the Brazilians early on will be long remembered.
