Orjan Nyland leads Norway past Brazil to World Cup quarterfinals

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Ørjan Nyland’s most impressive save in Norway's round of 16 win on Sunday, June 5 didn’t come from the foot or head of a Brazilian player.

Instead, it came on what would have been a disastrous own goal for Norway. Defender Kristoffer Ajer deflected a ball while defending near the top of Norway's penalty area in the 85th minute of a 1-0 match. The ball skied toward the corner of the net. With Nyland off his line, it appeared that Norway would be on the wrong end of an incredible misfortune. But Nyland’s heroic efforts, which included a last-moment save with his left hand – his fingertips altering the trajectory of the ball ever so slightly as he crashed into the right crossbar – kept Norway’s 1-0 advantage.

Ultimately, Nyland and Norway – behind another pair of goals from superstar Erling Haaland – hung on to defeat Brazil 2-1 and advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever.

Orland went down in the box moments later while trying to deflect another barrage from Brazil and was stepped on. He’d been a stone wall all match against Brazil, starting by saving a penalty kick from Bruno Guimarães in the 14th minute. He guessed correctly that Guimarães would shoot low and to his left and deftly deflected the ball to safety.

The next 12 of Brazil’s attempts at goal from then on met a similar fate. He made four saves, not including a point-blank attempt that would have been nullified by the offside flag anyway.

"Obviously when you are able to save a penalty that early, you feel that it is very hard to beat you," Nyland said. "It was a great moment in the game for myself but also for the team, to give ourselves breathing space. And in the end, we also managed to score in the right moments, so that was amazing."

Neymar's penalty kick in the 10th minute of stoppage time to end regulation beat Nyland and resulted in Brazil's lone goal of the match, but it came with not nearly enough time to mount a comeback.

Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said Nyland made "two or three very good saves" and that the entire team contributed to the historic win, "the greatest night in Norwegian football history," Solbakken said.

When the final whistle sounded, Nyland joined his team in the center circle to celebrate and he was mobbed by at least half a dozen of them. He deserved the adulation. But Nyland, the oldest player on Ståle Solbakken's team at 35 years old, was thinking of the young people in Norway after the win.

"We have written some history, so hopefully many young kids in Norway can relive this moment when they go to play football, no matter where they are going, and they can dream to one day stand in the same position as me and the rest of us, because it's possible, no matter where you're from," he said.

Nyland credited Norway preparing in a normal way despite the opponent – a five-time champion of this tournament. A speedster like Vinícius Júnior is enough of a headache for a keeper and the defensive unit in front of him, and not many sides can bring Neymar – even in his diminished state – off the bench.

Nyland's contract with Sevilla expired after the season and he is currently without a club team. That might change now following what Nyland called "the most important game of my career."

"Now everyone knows who to call when they need someone," he said. "I think I showed that today."

An entire country knows it.

Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes

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