Erling Haaland cements superstar status, scores twice in Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil

Haaland delivered both goals as Norway defeated five-time champion Brazil and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in its history.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For much of Sunday afternoon, Norway’s 6-foot-5 superstar Erling Haaland roamed the field, biding his time against Brazil, waiting for his moment to strike. He stood about a half-foot taller than most of the Brazilians. But they swarmed and bottled him up until the 79th minute, when his chance came in an instant.

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Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup chipped the ball toward the goal from the left side, and Haaland leaped, swung his neck and headed it into the net, outjumping Brazil’s 6-foot-3 defender Gabriel Magalhães, his Premier League nemesis.

During the celebration, Haaland played it cool, looking into the crowd with a sly smile. Schjelderup jumped on his back, and the rest of the Norway team began to mob him. Once the excitement had died down, the team gathered in a circle and a player went up to Haaland, grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his cheek.