Haaland fires Norway past Brazil into first World Cup quarters
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- Erling Haaland scored twice — his first a 79th-minute header, his second a low drive from outside the box 11 minutes later — as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
- Haaland moved level with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot standings with seven goals in four games, having scored twice against both Iraq and Senegal in the group stage.
- Haaland has now scored 62 goals in 54 senior internationals (one every 71 minutes), only six of them penalties, and has scored in each of his past 14 competitive Norway appearances for 27 goals in that run.
- Norway — competing at their first World Cup since 1998 and only their fourth ever — face England next after the Three Lions beat Mexico 3-2 in the last 16.
- Haaland got the better of Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, his Premier League rival, beating him for the opening header despite being limited to a single touch in Brazil's box before the break.
- Norway boss Stale Solbakken said the nation is "rowing together" after Haaland led the Viking Row celebration with supporters outside the stadium, with Wayne Rooney now owing a row down the River Mersey.
Why it matters: Norway had never won a World Cup knockout tie before last Tuesday — they now have two, including one over the most-decorated side in tournament history. Haaland's seven goals have him tied with Mbappé and Messi for the Golden Boot, and a run of scoring in 14 straight competitive internationals makes him the obvious threat to England in the last eight.
