Norway's Haaland Scores Five in World Cup Qualifier Demolition
Norway dominated Moldova in a World Cup qualifier, with Erling Haaland scoring five goals dominant performance led Norway to an 11-1 victory over Moldova in the WCQ.
Haaland continued his impressive performance, scoring his third goal with a stunning chip over the goalkeeper...
Erling Haaland scored five goals as Norway thrashed Moldova 11-1 in a World Cup qualifier, strengthening his position as top scorer in the 2026 qualifiers. Haaland's five-goal masterclass included a hat-trick before halftime, and he finished the game with two assists. The Norwegian striker's impressive performance saw him score 48 goals in 45 caps.
Norway's attack was relentless from the start, and within five minutes, they took the lead. Martin Odegaard's perfectly weighted through ball found Erling Haaland, who delivered a precise pass across goal to Felix Myhre, who easily tapped the ball into the net.
Norway's dominance continued, and by the 10th minute, the game was effectively over. Haaland scored his 44th goal in 45 internationals, sliding home a pass from Myhre, who had cleverly returned the favor earlier. Moldova's occasional forays forward were swiftly neutralized, leaving them struggling to cope with Norway's attacking prowess.
Alexander Sorloth had a chance to score from close range, but Norway wasn't punished thanks to Erling Haaland's and Martin Odegaard's clinical play. Just before halftime, Norway extended their lead with a quick break. Odegaard's precise pass released Haaland, who scored with a low finish to Avram's left, making it 3-0.
Haaland continued his impressive performance, scoring his third goal with a stunning chip over the goalkeeper. Before halftime, Martin Odegaard added a fifth goal, smashing the ball into the net, securing a 5-0 lead for Norway at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Norway continuing to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities. The game's intensity remained high as Norway looked to add to their tally.
Erling Haaland made it four goals with a precise header from David Møller Wolfe's inviting cross. Although Moldova had a brief moment of respite when a similar effort hit the crossbar, it was short-lived. Substitute Thelonious Aasgaard quickly put Norway's seventh goal away, rolling the ball home three minutes after entering the game.
Leo Østigård's momentary lapse led to an own goal just a minute after he was substituted in, denying Ørjan Nyland a clean sheet. However, Østigård's mistake was quickly overshadowed by Thelo Aasgaard's prolific performance. Aasgaard scored Norway's eighth goal two minutes after entering the game and went on to complete a hat-trick with a penalty kick.
A beautifully worked corner move ended with Erling Haaland scoring Norway's 10th goal. Despite the scoreline, Norway continued to push forward, and Aasgaard sealed an incredible performance with his fourth goal in injury time. Aasgaard's four goals in 27 minutes off the bench was an astonishing return, showcasing his impact on the game.
Moldova's recent performance in the World Cup qualifiers has been underwhelming, with the team extending its losing streak to 10 consecutive away games. Their overall record in away qualifiers stands at just 5 wins out of 35 matches, with 30 losses. The 11-1 thrashing by Norway further adds to their woes, leaving them at the bottom of Group I with no points.
Erling Haaland's exceptional performance against Moldova has catapulted him to the top of the scoring charts. He now leads the standings with a significant margin of three goals over Andrej Kramaric. With his blistering form, Norway remains hopeful of qualifying for their first World Cup finals in the 21st century. Haaland's five goals in the match against Moldova not only showcased his skill but also set a new record for the most goals scored by a European player in a single World Cup qualifier match, surpassing Austria's Hans Krankl's record of six goals against Malta in 1977 is not accurate in this context since Haaland scored 5. Norway tops Group I with 15 points, six points ahead of second-placed Italy.
Norway's Dominance
The match showcased Norway's attacking prowess, with Thelo Aasgaard scoring four goals after coming on as a substitute. Martin Ødegaard also contributed to the scoreline, netting one goal and providing passes for some of Haaland's goals. Moldova's lone goal came from an own goal by Norwegian defender Leo Østigård.
Qualification Implications
With this win, Norway now leads their group with 15 points, six points clear of second-placed Italy, who have a game in hand. Moldova, on the other hand, remains at the World Cup qualifiers with no points, having lost all five matches and conceded 25 goals.
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