Erling Haaland warmed up for Sunday’s derby against Manchester United in ominous fashion by scoring five goals in Norway’s 5-1 rout of Moldova.
The Manchester City striker registered a fifth hat-trick for his country between the 11th and 43rd minutes and was not done there, striking twice more in the second half.
In taking his record to 48 goals in 45 caps, he took a familiar spot in centre stage despite team-mate Thelo Aasgaard scoring four after arriving as a 64th-minute substitute.
Even Moldova’s consolation came from a Norwegian player, Leo Ostigard with the own goal in a result that equalled the record for a European World Cup qualifier.
It was a chastening experience for Moldova’s players, who slumped to their heaviest ever defeat, particularly goalkeeper Cristian Avram who had no answer to the onslaught spearheaded by Haaland.
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‘I spoke to Erling,’ revealed a crestfallen Avram after the game. He said ‘It’s not my fault,’ and that he just had to keep trying to score because of the goal difference. I understand him.
‘Look at me, what can I say? I’m not going to die. I have to stay strong. In a few days I have another match. But eleven goals is a lot.
With five games played, the Norwegians now top Group I on 15 points, six ahead of second-placed Italy, who have a game in hand.
The group winners qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup while the runners-up go into a playoff.
Haaland’s beautiful cushioned pass teed up Felix Horn Myhre to break the deadlock with a sixth-minute tap-in, and Martin Odegaard should have made it two a minute later, but he blazed the ball over from close range.
The Norwegians didn’t have to wait long for another goal as Haaland rattled home in the 11th minute, snapping up a loose ball in the box and sweeping it into the far corner.
Haaland slotted home his second to round off a Norwegian counter-attack in the 36th minute and completed his hat-trick before the break.
Avram forced him to go wide, but Haaland simply recovered the ball and chipped it brilliantly in at the far post to make it 4-0.
Odegaard netted a fifth in first-half stoppage time and seven minutes into the second half Haaland struck again, scoring his fourth with a header as Norway ran riot in front of their home fans.
Substitute Aasgaard struck twice either side of an own goal by Leo Ostigard, and he got his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 79th minute before Haaland added the 10th, his ninth goal in five World Cup qualifiers.
Aasgaard completed the rout with a flicked finish in second-half stoppage time.
