Nyland's Unbelievable Saves
Nyland's Stellar Performance Denies Brazil Penalty and Chances, Yet Brazil Advances Goalless
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Key Points
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Neymar was brought on as a substitute after Nyland saved Bruno Guimarães's penalty, signaling Brazil's continued push for a winner.
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Bruno Guimarães' penalty miss was notable for being the first Brazilian World Cup penalty miss since 1986.
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Nyland produced two crucial saves in the first half: a stop on Vinícius Júnior at about 41 minutes and a boot clearance on Martinelli eight minutes earlier to deny a follow-up chance.
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Norway had a goal disallowed just before halftime, highlighting the tense, balanced contest despite Brazil's pressure.
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The match took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, underscoring the United States location of the knockout clash.
Norway stunned five-time world champions Brazil 2-1 on July 5, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, booking their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Daily Herald reported that Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes to send the Seleção home in the Round of 16 — Brazil's earliest exit since 1990.
The match turned on two defining moments: Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland's early penalty save from Bruno Guimarães, and Haaland's lethal late brace. Ottawa City News confirmed the final score was 2-1, with Neymar scoring a consolation penalty deep in stoppage time. Norway advance to face either Mexico or England in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Miami.
Nyland's Penalty Save Breaks a 40-Year Brazilian Streak
In the 14th minute, referee Ismail Elfath awarded Brazil a penalty after Kristoffer Ajer brought down Matheus Cunha. Vinícius Júnior initially held the ball at the spot — then handed it to Bruno Guimarães. That decision proved catastrophic. Nyland dived low to his left and saved Guimarães' stutter-step effort. The Australian noted the save ended a 40-year streak of Brazil converting every non-shootout World Cup penalty, dating back to Zico's miss against France in 1986.
Before the game, Guimarães had warned his teammates about Haaland: "He is really something else... with one ball he can decide the match." It was Guimarães' own miss that shifted the match's psychological momentum. Nyland then made two more first-half stops — a boot clearance to deny Gabriel Martinelli in the 33rd minute and a sharp save on Vinícius Júnior in the 41st.
Haaland Strikes Twice in 11 Minutes to Break Brazil's Heart
The match stayed 0-0 deep into the second half. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti brought on Endrick at the 58th minute, but the substitute missed a golden one-on-one chance wide. Neymar — returning from a calf injury — came on in the 67th minute. Neither substitution unlocked the Norwegian defense. Then, in the 79th minute, Andreas Schjelderup crossed from the left and Haaland headed home above defender Gabriel. Norway led 1-0.
Eleven minutes later, Schjelderup again set up Haaland on a swift counter-attack. Haaland buried a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner — 2-0. Daily Mail called it a "stand-out performance" for Norwegian football history. Neymar pulled one back from the spot in the 97th minute, but it was too late. The final whistle confirmed Norway's historic win. Haaland's brace brought his tournament total to seven goals, level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Ancelotti's Tactical Choices Draw Immediate Fire
Brazil finished the match with just 34% possession — a staggering figure for a team built around world-class attackers. Ancelotti had dismissed the threat of Haaland before the game, saying: "I don't think there is such a thing as an 'anti-Haaland plan.'" Critics quickly pointed to that quote after both goals. The decision to let Guimarães take the penalty instead of Vinícius Júnior — Brazil's top scorer with four goals — also drew immediate backlash.
Mozzart Sport noted Norway's victory handed Brazil "another disgrace," with Norway remaining unbeaten in all five competitive meetings between the two nations. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken's halftime substitutions were decisive — both of Haaland's goals came directly from Schjelderup, introduced at the break. Solbakken had said before the match: "We are not playing for fun — we are playing to win." He delivered exactly that.
Brazil's Earliest Exit Since 1990 Triggers Crisis Talk
This result marks Brazil's earliest World Cup elimination since 1990, when Argentina knocked them out in the Round of 16. It is also the sixth straight World Cup in which Brazil has been eliminated by a European nation. The loss is expected to trigger a major crisis inside the Brazilian Football Confederation. Ancelotti, hired specifically to end a 24-year World Cup trophy drought, now faces serious questions about his future.
For Neymar, now 34, this almost certainly ends his World Cup career — closing on a bitter consolation goal rather than glory. Norway, meanwhile, make their first-ever quarterfinal appearance and face a genuine shot at a semifinal run. The 80,663 fans at MetLife Stadium witnessed one of the tournament's defining upsets. The Australian summarized it simply: Haaland scored twice in the last 11 minutes "to secure a place in the quarter-finals" — and send Brazil home.
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