Haaland scores five as Norway put 11 past Moldova

Haaland scores five as Norway put 11 past Moldova

Erling Haaland scored five goals and set up two more as Norway thrashed Moldova to edge closer to qualifying for a first World Cup in 27 years.

The Manchester City striker set up Felix Horn Myhre on six minutes before netting three goals in 32 first-half minutes at Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo.

Haaland hit number four seven minutes into the second half before netting a fifth in the 83rd minute to take his tally in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to nine, more than any other player.

The 25-year-old was in supreme form, notching five goals in one match for his country for the first time, having done so twice for City.

Two of his efforts were set up by Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, who added the fifth himself just before the break, before Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard came off the bench to score four second-half goals.

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A Leo Ostigard own goal gifted visitors Moldova their 74th-minute strike, but dominant Norway hit 11 in a game for the third time in their history – falling short of their record 12-0 win over Finland in 1946 – and moved six points clear of Italy at the top of Group I.

They have not featured at a major tournament since Euro 2000 and played in the 1998 World Cup finals, meaning Haaland has never played for his country at a major tournament.

He has now scored 48 goals in 45 games for his country, while this was his fifth hat-trick.

Norway’s victory equalled the record for the highest winning margin in a European World Cup qualifying match, with Macedonia beating Liechtenstein 11-1 in the 1996 qualifiers.

Stale Solbakken’s side, who have won all five of their qualifying matches, face Israel then Estonia, before a potential decider in Italy on 16 November.

Only the group winners are certain to qualify for next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the runners-up entering the play-offs.

Haaland scores five as Norway put 11 past Moldova