Erling Haaland scored again and Norway moved even closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 by beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo on Thursday.
The win virtually secures a spot for the high-scoring Norwegians in next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Norway has a vastly superior goal difference compared to second-placed Italy, ahead of the two sides meeting in their final qualifier in Milan on Sunday.
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Italy would have to beat Norway by nine goals to avoid having to settle for the playoffs, where the four-time World Cup champion was shockingly eliminated in the past two editions.
All the goals came in the second half. Haaland scored twice in a six-minute span to increase the lead to 4-0 after Alexander Sørloth put the hosts 2-0 ahead shortly after the break.
Haaland has scored 14 of Norway’s European-best 33 goals in seven group-stage games. The Manchester City striker was born two years after Norway last reached the World Cup.
