Norway's Vikings end Brazil's World Cup dream

Erling Haaland scored twice in the closing stages as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 to reach a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, dumping the five-time champions out at the Round of 16 stage at MetLife Stadium.

Haaland struck in the 79th and 90th minutes to end Brazil's dreams of winning their sixth world title, having earlier seen Bruno Guimaraes miss a penalty for the Selecao and Norway have a goal ruled out for offside in the first-half.

Neymar converted a stoppage-time penalty for Brazil, but it proved a mere consolation as Carlo Ancelotti's side became the latest South American giant to fall to European opposition in the knockouts.

The result extends Brazil's run of exits to European teams to six straight World Cups, while Norway reached the last eight for the first time in their history.

Norway nearly took a lead inside three minutes when Patrick Berg rifled home from Alexander Sorloth's cutback, only for the goal to be ruled out for Sorloth's offside in the build-up.

Brazil were then awarded a penalty in the 13th minute after Kristoffer Ajer fouled Matheus Cunha in the box. Guimaraes stepped up ahead of Vinicius Junior but saw his effort saved by Orjan Nyland.

Both sides created further chances before the break. Nyland denied Vinicius Junior, while Alisson twice kept out efforts from Martin Odegaard. The teams went in level at half-time.

Norway made a double change after the restart, introducing Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb, while Brazil brought on Neymar and Endrick as they searched for a breakthrough.

Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, rising above Gabriel Magalhaes to head home Schjelderup's cross from the left.

Brazil responded immediately. Nyland got a fingertip to a deflected effort to prevent an own goal, before Casemiro somehow sent a close-range chance across an empty net.

Haaland settled the tie in the 90th minute, killing Schjelderup's pass with one touch before rifling a low finish beyond Alisson from outside the box.

Neymar converted from the spot in stoppage time after Leo Ostigard's elbow on Casemiro was punished, but there was no time left for Brazil to find a way back.

This was the first time since 1990 that Brazil have been eliminated from the World Cup before the quarterfinal.

This was also likely to be Neymar’s final appearance in a World Cup, as the attacker had hinted prior to the tournament that this will be his ‘last dance’.