- No sixth star for the Selecao!
- Bruno Guimaraes rues pitiful penalty
- It’s Brazil 1 vs Norway 2
The dream is dead, and a generation’s wait continues. Twenty-eight years of Brazilian heartbreak is officially cemented after a relentless Norway pulled off the ultimate upset, stunning the Seleção on Saturday night in New Jersey to dump the five-time champions out of the World Cup!
In a devastating twist for the South American giants, Norway’s pointman, Erling Haaland proved to be the ultimate executioner, shattering Brazilian hopes and forcing the South American nation to extend its agonizing World Cup drought.
The Manchester City goal machine’s late brace secured a 2-1 win for the Scandinavians, who took advantage of Bruno Guimaraes missing an early penalty to win through to the quarter-finals for the first time in their football history.
Brazil survived an early scare when Patrick Berg’s strike was disallowed for an offside in the build-up, and looked like they would take full advantage of their reprieve when Matheus Cunha was fouled in the Norway penalty area, only for Guimaraes’ spot-kick to be pushed away by Orjan Nyland.
From there, the Scandinavians dominated possession, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were still able to create opportunities in transition.
Real Madrid’s winger Vinicius Jr came closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time when he won the ball high up the pitch and forced Nyland into a save, while at the other end, Alisson Becker did well to smother an effort from Martin Odegaard.
Brazil threw on Endrick early in the second half in pursuit of an opening goal, and the teenager should have scored immediately when he was played through by Vinicius, but a poor touch led to Endrick poking his shot wide.
Neymar was also introduced, but Norway continued to push, and after Andreas Schjelderup forced Alisson into a save, the Benfica winger produced a cross from the left-hand side that found Haaland to head home his sixth goal of the tournament.
Nyland produced a superb save to keep Brazil from levelling via an own goal when he tipped a looping ball onto the post, and Haaland then made the game safe in the final minute of the 90 with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Respite came from the South American giants when Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Casemiro was fouled in the six yard box.
However, the goal came too little, too late for the Selecao and Brasilia, which officially replaced Rio de Janeiro as the national capital on April 21, 1960, now awaits their unexpected early return from this year’s El Mundial
