Haaland Hits Five as Norway Crush Moldova 11-1 in World Cup Qualifier
Norway fans were treated to a spectacular night in Oslo as their national team stormed to an 11–1 victory over Moldova, bringing them a step closer to their first World Cup since 1998. The star of the show was Erling Haaland, who delivered one of the greatest individual performances in Norway’s history by scoring five goals and assisting two more.
The game was electric from the start. Within just six minutes, Haaland set up Felix Horn Myhre to open the scoring. Moments later, the Manchester City striker took control of the match, netting three times before halftime. His first came in the 11th minute, and by the 43rd, he had already completed a stunning hat-trick. To make matters worse for Moldova, Martin Ødegaard added a goal in stoppage time of the first half, sending Norway into the break 5–0 up.
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If the Moldovan players were hoping for some relief in the second half, it never arrived. Haaland grabbed his fourth goal shortly after the restart and later capped his night with a fifth in the 83rd minute. Thelo Aasgaard, who came off the bench, also enjoyed his own moment of glory by scoring four times, including a penalty. Even when Moldova managed to get on the scoresheet, it was through an unfortunate own goal by Norway’s Leo Østigård.
Norway’s dominance was absolute. They recorded 34 shots, 18 of them on target, compared to just two attempts by Moldova. Possession was controlled at nearly 71 percent, with wave after wave of attacks being launched inside the Ullevaal Stadion. Moldova’s goalkeeper was kept busy throughout but stood little chance against Norway’s relentless firepower.
For Haaland, this match was more than just another goal tally. It was his first five-goal performance for his country, something he had already achieved at club level with Manchester City. Now 25 years old, he has scored 48 goals in 45 appearances for Norway, already cementing his status as one of Europe’s most feared strikers. His connection with Ødegaard, who assisted two of his goals, gave fans a glimpse of what this generation of Norwegian talent can deliver on the world stage.
The result not only delighted supporters but also set a historic marker. Norway’s 11–1 win equalled the largest margin of victory ever seen in a European World Cup qualifier, a record that had stood since 1996. It also marked the third time in Norway’s history that they have scored 11 goals in a match, just one short of their all-time record of 12–0 against Finland back in 1946.
With five wins from five qualifying games, Norway sit six points clear of Italy at the top of Group I. If they can keep this momentum, a long-awaited return to the World Cup in 2026 could soon be sealed. For a generation of fans who have never seen their nation on football’s biggest stage, nights like this are building the belief that the wait may finally be over.
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