Brazil 1-2 Norway: FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Match Report

Brazil 1-2 Norway, and the result of the tournament. Goalless at half-time, and then a second half in which Norway scored twice, Brazil once, and one of the pre-tournament favourites went out in the last sixteen.

Beating Brazil in a knockout match is the single biggest thing any side achieved at this World Cup, and Norway did it in the manner that had become their signature: a one-goal margin, decided late, against opposition ranked well above them. It was their second consecutive 2-1 knockout win after eliminating Ivory Coast in the previous round.

Brazil's exit follows a Round of 32 tie against Japan in which they also trailed and had to come from behind. Two knockout matches, two deficits — and only one recovery.

Brazil topped Group C with seven points, drawing 1-1 with Morocco and beating Haiti and Scotland 3-0 each. Seven goals scored, one conceded — the sort of group campaign that makes a side favourites. They then beat Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32 after going in behind at half-time.

Norway qualified from Group I in second on six points behind France, beating Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2 before losing 4-1 to France. Eight scored, seven conceded — the loosest defensive record of any side to reach the last sixteen. They then beat Ivory Coast 2-1.

The Senegal and Ivory Coast results are the pattern this tie completed. Norway had already won two matches by a single goal against strong African sides; Brazil were a considerable step up, and the method held.

Norway advanced to a quarter-final against England and lost 2-1 after extra time, level at 1-1 through ninety minutes. Their tournament therefore ends with four knockout-round goals across three ties and three consecutive one-goal margins — two won, one lost.

Reaching the last eight having eliminated Brazil is the best World Cup run in Norway's modern history, and it was built on an attack that scored in every match rather than on a defence that stopped anyone.

For Brazil, elimination in the Round of 16 is the earliest exit of any of the pre-tournament favourites except Germany. The warning was already there in the Japan tie — a first half spent behind, a comeback required — and here the comeback did not arrive. Two goalless first halves in two knockout matches, and a side that could not set the terms of either.