By Jude Chukwura
Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the
tournament on Sunday, knocking Brazil out of the World Cup with a dramatic 2-1
victory that secured the Scandinavians a place in the quarter-finals for the
very first time.
The hero of the night was Erling Haaland, whose two late
goals finally broke Brazil's resistance and left the five-time world champions
heading home far earlier than anyone had expected.
For much of the contest, neither side could find a
breakthrough. Brazil had moments of promise, while Norway looked increasingly
confident as the match wore on. It was only in the closing stages that the
deadlock was finally broken.
Haaland struck in the 79th minute to reward Norway's growing
dominance, sending their supporters into celebration. He then sealed the famous
win moments before the end of normal time with a composed finish using his left
foot, effectively putting the result beyond Brazil's reach.
Brazil managed to pull one back from the penalty spot in the
dying moments, but it proved nothing more than a consolation as Norway
celebrated a memorable 2-1 triumph.
The match had begun in front of a crowd dominated by
Brazilian supporters, with smoke from the pre-match fireworks still hanging
over the stadium. Norway thought they had taken an early lead when Patrick Berg
found the net, only for celebrations to be cut short after the assistant
referee flagged for offside.
Brazil were then handed a golden opportunity after Matheus
Cunha was brought down by Kristoffer Ajer inside the penalty area. Although the
referee initially waved play on, a VAR review resulted in a penalty being
awarded. Even so, the decision did little to calm frustrated Brazilian fans,
many of whom believed the foul should have been spotted immediately.
Their frustration only deepened when Bruno Guimarães failed
to convert the spot-kick. His stuttering run-up ended with a missed penalty,
leaving the score goalless as the players paused for the first hydration break.
Brazil continued searching for the breakthrough after the
interval. Teenage substitute Endrick, introduced in place of Cunha, came
closest just after the hour mark. The 19-year-old found space for a clear sight
of goal but dragged his effort wide before Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland
denied Brazil again with a series of important saves.
The arrival of Neymar shortly before the second hydration
break briefly lifted the Brazilian supporters, who greeted the superstar with
loud cheers. Sadly for them, it would be their last joyful moment of the
tournament, as Haaland's late brilliance wrote a new chapter in Norway's
football history while bringing Brazil's campaign to an abrupt and painful end.
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