In this FIFA World Cup recap, Erling Haaland sinks Brazil and England survives the Azteca.
Norse Invasion: Haaland scores twice as Norway sinks Brazil
The Viking Ages have apparently returned, as Erling Haaland’s second-half brace helps Norway knock out Brazil with a 2-1 victory.
The Norwegians wrote a new chapter in the history of their national team, as it’s currently the farthest they have ever gone in a World Cup tournament.
The game was chaotic from the jump. Norway thought they took an early lead in the third minute through Patrick Berg, but it was later ruled offside after Alexander Sørloth mistimed his run.
About 11 minutes later, the Seleção were awarded a penalty after Kristoffer Ajer upended Matheus Cunha inside the Norwegians’ penalty box. Bruno Guimarães stepped up to take it, but goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland guessed the right way and saved it.
Nyland himself had a great game on Sunday, saving four shots.
Both teams made substitutions in the second half to have fresh legs, including Brazil bringing on their talismanic superstar Neymar, in what could be his final attempt to win the elusive trophy.
But it was the Vikings who struck first in the 79th minute, when Andreas Schjelderup whipped in a cross on the edge of the Seleção‘s penalty box, before Haaland outmuscled Gabriel for the header and put it past goalkeeper Alisson Becker to give Norway the lead. And in the 90th, Haaland received a pass from Schjelderup on the edge of Brazil’s penalty box, who then nonchalantly unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that sailed past Becker to double the Norwegians’ lead.
In only his first-ever World Cup, Haaland now sits on seven goals, atop the Golden Boot standings with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
Stoppage time was more of a scrap than a match, but the Seleção were handed a lifeline when Casemiro caught an elbow to the face from Leo Østigård during an aerial challenge inside Norway’s penalty area, leading to a penalty for Brazil. Neymar stepped and slotted it past Nyland in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
It’s now been 24 years since the Seleção last won the World Cup, and 12 years since they last made a semi-final, where they were crushed by Germany 7-1 in their own country. It was also the end of an era for Brazil, as Neymar announced his retirement from the national team.
England weathers the Azteca storm in win over Mexico
Mexico gave its all at its prestigious Estadio Azteca, but England defied the odds to come out 3-2 winners to advance to the quarterfinals.
With the win, the Three Lions handed El Tri their third-ever loss at the Azteca and their first since September 2013.
Despite facing problems, including the altitude and a deeply passionate Mexican home crowd, England seemed to be better prepared for the conditions than most people thought.
And it showed in the 36th minute when Declan Rice carried the ball all the way to El Tri’s final third, before laying it off to Bukayo Saka, who then whipped in a cross to an unmarked Jude Bellingham at the back post, before heading it into the net past goalkeeper Raúl Rangel for the lead.
And two minutes later, the Three Lions struck again when Elliot Anderson robbed Gilberto Mora of possession in Mexico’s own third. Anthony Gordon helped the ball onto Bellingham, who then fed Harry Kane before playing the ball back across the penalty area, where Bellingham slotted it past Rangel again to double the lead.
Despite giving up two goals in two minutes, Mexico wouldn’t falter and responded in a big way in the 42nd minute, when Julián Quiñones caught Roberto Alvarado’s inswinging free kick near England’s six-yard box, before blasting it into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to get one back for El Tri.
Mexico were then handed a big advantage in the 54th minute of the second half, when Jarell Quansah received a red card for a studs-up challenge on Jesús Gallardo, leaving the Three Lions with only 10 men for the remainder of the game. But El Tri immediately squandered that advantage six minutes later when Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon inside Mexico’s penalty area, leading to a spot kick for England that Kane calmly put in the back of the net past Rangel to restore the Three Lions’ two-goal lead.
But in the 69th minute, Kane went from hero to zero when he caught Brian Gutiérrez during a challenge for the ball inside England’s penalty area, leading to a spot kick for Mexico that Raúl Jiménez calmly swept past Pickford to make a one-goal game.
But even with the man advantage, El Tri could not find the equalizer for the remainder of the game, as the Three Lions sat deep and held on to survive at the Azteca.
England now prepares for their quarterfinal matchup on July 11, when it takes on Norway in Miami.
Delivered by Sean Paul
