Erling Haaland delivered yet another masterclass, netting five goals as Norway demolished Moldova 11-1 in a ruthless World Cup qualifying display.

Substitute Thelo Aasgaard added four more to seal Norway’s biggest win in recent history, pushing them closer to their first World Cup finals since 1998.

The win leaves Norway top of Group I with 15 points from five matches, six points clear of second-placed Italy, who still have a game in hand.

Moldova, meanwhile, remain bottom of the table without a single point, having suffered their heaviest-ever defeat.

Haaland Hat-Trick Before Half-Time

Norway wasted no time asserting dominance. Haaland’s clever cushioned pass set up Felix Horn Myhre for the opener in the sixth minute before the Manchester City striker opened his own account five minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball to slot home.

The 23-year-old doubled his tally on 36 minutes after a lightning counter-attack, and just before the break, he produced a sublime chip past Cristian Avram to complete his hat-trick. Skipper Martin Ødegaard added another in stoppage time, making it 5-0 at the interval.

Aasgaard Off the Bench to Shine

Haaland continued his scoring spree with a powerful header in the 52nd minute before substitute Aasgaard took center stage. The 22-year-old midfielder struck twice on either side of Leo Østigård’s own goal, before calmly converting a penalty to complete his hat-trick.

Haaland wasn’t done yet—he added his fifth and Norway’s 10th of the night, making it nine goals in just five qualifiers. Aasgaard then capped off the extraordinary rout with a flicked finish in stoppage time.

Norway Closing in on World Cup Return

With five wins from five games, Norway look well on course to qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup. Group winners progress directly to the finals, while runners-up must go through the playoffs.

For Haaland and Norway, the dream of returning to the world stage after 26 years is looking more realistic than ever.