By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Norway breaks R16 jinx to meet Mexico vs England winner in the quarters
THE WARRIORS of Norway on Sunday night maintained an awesome dominance over world football super powers, Samba Boys of Brazil 2-1 in the round of 16.
Gangling Erling Haaland sent the Samba Boys off with a brilliant brace scored in the 79th minute when Andreas Schjelolerup crossed a ball into the box and Haaland headed it in and at 90th minute when same Andreas sent a pass which Haaland scored with a powerful left foot from the centre of the box.
Haaland the Manchester City Forward who will be 25 years on 11th July has 5 goals in his kitty. Two against Senegal in group I; one against Ivory Coast in round of 32 and now 2 against mighty Brazil.
Neymer however reduced the tally for Brazil in the via 90+10th minute penalty kick.
Norway disallowed the tiki-taka flow Brazilian football dominating play with a handsome 66-34% ball possessions doing more passes of 653–313 to frustrate the Brazilians who resulted into rough play giving 7-4 calls against them and Neymer collecting the only yellow card.
Brazil tried shots making 12-9 shots at goal with 4-5 on target for they were either blocked or saved. The two goalkeepers did well it was 3-4 excellent saves by the Keepers.
Brazil never beat Norway even in their previous four meetings. In 1988 it was 1-1; in 1997 Norway won 4-2 and in 2006 it was 1-1 all in Friendly Games.
The only competitive meeting was in the group A meeting at the Marseille Velodrome in France 1998 world cup when Norway won 2-1. Norway was beaten by Italy by a lone goal in round of 16, but Brazil was beaten in the grande finale by France 3-0 in that tournament.
Norway, ranked 31 in their 4th appearances has now broken the jinx of not going beyond the round of 16 having been stopped there in 1938 and 1998.
Brazil ranked 6th in the world with 23 appearances were five times world champions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Norway will meet the winner of the Mexico vs England battle in the quarterfinals on 11th July at Miami Gardens.
For the rest of the round of 16 matches, Mexico faces England at 1am Monday at Mexico Stadium; Portugal meets Spain at 8.00pm on Monday; Belgium and USA will settle scores at 1.00am on Tuesday; that Tuesday it will be Argentina versus Egypt at 5.00pm and then Switzerland and Columbia at 9.00pm same Tuesday.
#FIFA #2026WORLDCUP #CONMEBOL
#UEFA #CBF #NFF.
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