Haaland double downs Brazil and carries Norway into first World Cup quarterfinal

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Erling Haaland nodded Norway ahead in the 80th minute and added another strike before full time, driving his side to a 2-1 win over Brazil on Sunday and a first-ever place in the World Cup quarterfinals on football's grandest stage.

The 6-foot-5 striker had been largely quiet through much of the match and saw few touches, but he rose to the occasion when it counted. Andreas Schjelderup, who came on at halftime, delivered the cross that Haaland met with his head for the breakthrough. The substitute leapt onto Haaland's back to celebrate the striker's sixth goal at this World Cup, and did the same after setting up his seventh — a tally that now level with Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé for the most at the tournament.

Haaland has now scored in 14 straight competitive internationals, with 27 goals across that run and 62 from 54 caps for Norway.

At the back, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland was outstanding. He dived to his left to keep out Bruno Guimarães' penalty in the 14th minute, then used his left hand to repel a late effort from Endrick as Brazil pressed while Norway held a one-goal lead.

The only strike Nyland conceded came from Neymar from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time, a goal that changed the scoreline but not the result.

At 35, Nyland is Norway's oldest player, and his display underpinned a victory that stands among the most important in the country's history on the men's side. Norway's women lifted the World Cup in 1995, but the men have reached the finals only four times — not since 1998 — and had never advanced beyond the round of 16.

Norway's next assignment is the winner of Saturday's Mexico-England round-of-16 tie in Miami Gardens, Florida.