Norway edged toward a long-awaited return to the global stage after a clear victory over Estonia pushed them to the top of their qualifying section.
The unbeaten run stretched to seven matches, giving them maximum points and a strong advantage over their closest rival.
Italy remained in pursuit later in the evening, but their narrow success kept only a faint mathematical chance alive.
With one match left, Norway’s cushion rests not only on points but also on a huge scoring margin that leaves their challengers facing an almost impossible task. Their path could have been sealed earlier, yet they must wait for formal confirmation after events elsewhere denied a quick celebration.
Turning point after quiet opening
For large parts of the first half, Norway dominated possession yet failed to convert several promising situations. Estonia held firm and looked capable of prolonging the hosts’ frustration before the match shifted dramatically soon after the interval.
Alexander Sorloth rose to direct a firm header into the net, breaking the stalemate and releasing the tension in the stadium.
Moments later, Sorloth repeated the feat, doubling the cushion with another aerial finish. Those two swift strikes changed the rhythm entirely and forced Estonia to chase the game, opening spaces that soon proved costly.
Haaland’s decisive contribution
Erling Haaland, relatively quiet before the break, stamped his influence on the contest as Norway grew more dominant. He met a curling delivery from Julian Ryerson with a forceful header to extend the advantage. Minutes afterward, Haaland drove in another goal, ending any hope of a response from the visitors.
Estonia managed a late consolation when Robi Saarma drilled a low shot past the goalkeeper, yet it altered little in the broader picture.
Norway’s command remained secure, leaving them poised to end a wait dating back to 1998.
Italian delay to Norwegian celebrations
Elsewhere, Italy battled through an unexpectedly tense encounter with Moldova. Despite creating a flood of opportunities, they spent almost the entire match without scoring. A breakthrough finally arrived through Gianluca Mancini in the closing stages.
Deep into the final minutes, Pio Esposito added a second, keeping Italy in contention on paper but unlikely to erase Norway’s overwhelming goal margin.
Those late moments postponed Norway’s confirmation, though only temporarily.