Erling Haaland described Norway’s win over Brazil as “one of the crucial insane days in Norwegian historical past” after scoring twice to ship his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals for the primary time.
The Manchester City striker struck twice within the last 11 minutes at MetLife Stadium as Norway got here from behind to beatthe Selecao 2-1.
“Possibly this may write historical past in Norway,” Haaland mentioned after the match.
“Everybody simply must get pleasure from themselves. That is simply an insane day. It’s one of the crucial insane days in Norwegian historical past. Simply get pleasure from it, embrace it and benefit from the second.”
Haaland opened the scoring within the 79th minute from an Andreas Schjelderup cross earlier than including a second with a robust low end within the closing phases.
Though Neymar transformed a penalty deep into stoppage time, it proved too late to avoid wasting Brazil from a shock exit.
The brace moved Haaland stage with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe on seven targets within the race for the Golden Boot, whereas extending his worldwide scoring streak to 14 matches.
Solbakken praises Norway’s historic achievement
Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes the win might have an enduring impression on soccer within the nation.
“I believe that each one Norwegian residents are experiencing the evening of a lifetime,” he mentioned.
“Some individuals say that we’ve got modified Norway without end. In all probability, they are going to occasion for every week or so.”
The end result ends many years of frustration for Norway, who had beforehand misplaced each of their World Cup last-16 appearances in 1938 and 1998.
Solbakken was additionally rewarded for a pair of half-time substitutions, with Schjelderup offering assists for each of Haaland’s targets after being launched in the course of the interval.
“In the course of the recreation, you must take the calls and selections that you simply really feel are acceptable,” Solbakken mentioned.
“It’s a intestine feeling that Oscar [Bobb] and Andreas may make a distinction, and I felt safer with them on the pitch the best way I needed us to play the second half, and you then noticed what occurred.”
Brazil punished as Nyland shines
Brazil’s elimination represents their earliest World Cup exit since 1990 and ends a exceptional run of reaching at the least the quarter-finals at each event from 1994 onwards.
The five-time world champions had alternatives to take management of the match however have been left to rue a collection of missed probabilities.
Bruno Guimaraes failed to convert a first-half penalty after goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a wonderful save, whereas a number of different openings went begging as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet struggled to make their dominance depend.
Nyland, Norway’s oldest participant at 35, delivered a standout efficiency, denying Guimaraes from the spot earlier than producing one other essential cease from Endrick late within the recreation.
After the ultimate whistle, Norway’s gamers and supporters celebrated, with Haaland main the festivities in entrance of the travelling followers.
“I’ve peaked a few occasions throughout this event,” Haaland mentioned.
“However this was a brand new peak.”
Norway will now face both England or Mexico within the quarter-finals.
