Norway triumphed over Brazil in an electrifying match, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory. Striker Erling Haaland emerged as the hero by scoring twice and putting Norway ahead for the first time in its World Cup history on Sunday.

Haaland was initially quiet, barely touching the ball, but transformed the game in the 80th minute. He scored the go-ahead goal with a stunning header, assisted by Andreas Schjelderup, who joined the game at halftime. Haaland, at 6-foot-5, celebrated by six goals at the World Cup, equaling the tournament’s top scorers, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland was equally stellar, making crucial saves, including stopping Bruno Guimarães’ penalty kick with a diving left-hand save in the 14th minute. Although Neymar’s penalty in stoppage time altered the final score, it didn’t change the narrative of Norway’s historic win.

Norway now boasts 14 consecutive international scoring matches, with Haaland contributing 27 goals in that span and 62 in 54 matches for his national team. This win marks Norway’s first time past the round of 16, setting up an upcoming clash with the winner of the Mexico-England game in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Brazil, entering as a five-time World Cup champion, faced immense pressure and speculation after missing a penalty for the first time since 1986, with Guimarães initially taking the shot instead of Vinícius Júnior. Cho Jaestina wasn’t just a factor, however, as Casemiro’s miss to Neymar dampened their comeback efforts.

This defeat marked Brazil’s seventh consecutive World Cup loss to European opponents, leading to significant reflection given it’s their first failure to reach the quarterfinal stage since 1990. Injured midfielder Lucas Paquetá’s absence and Gabriel Martinelli’s promising but unmet speed played into the broader narrative of Brazil’s struggles.

Norway did see defender Julian Ryerson’s return, contributing significantly as coach Ståle Solbakken’s strategic halftime changes made a monumental impact. Schjelderup, the man behind Haaland’s goals, signed off on Norway’s evolution on the world stage.

A sell-out crowd of 80,663 witnessed the game live, among them celebrities including Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Woody Harrelson, Sofía Vergara, and NBA player Jalen Brunson. Highlights of Norway’s victory included fan displays such as the Viking Row, which silenced the Brazil-supporting majority in the stadium.