Haaland Leads Norway to World Cup Berth with Crucial Victory Over Estonia

Basio badr

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Haaland Leads Norway to World Cup Berth with Crucial Victory Over Estonia

Norway took a significant step towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Estonia at Ullevaal Stadion. This win marks Norway’s 10th triumph in their last 11 matches, placing them firmly on track for their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Crucial Victory Secures World Cup Dreams

To guarantee their place at next year’s finals, Norway needed a win. Their last qualification match against Italy might loom, but they managed to quash any potential anxieties with a dominant performance against Estonia.

First Half Frustrations

The match began slowly, with both teams managing only one shot on target in the first half. Rauno Sappinen’s attempt for Estonia was saved by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. For Norway, record goalscorer Erling Haaland struggled to make an impact, with his only shot on goal being a harmless header.

Second Half Turnaround

The second half saw a complete transformation. Just five minutes in, Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring with a well-placed header from Sander Berge’s cross. Sensing momentum, Sørloth added a second goal shortly after, deepening Estonia’s difficulties.

Haaland finally broke through, scoring with a header similar to Sørloth’s second goal. This marked his 13th goal of the qualification cycle. He soon netted his 14th with a powerful volley, bringing the crowd to their feet. Estonia managed a consolation goal through Robi Saarma, marking his first international goal.

Post-Match Reflections

Despite ongoing controversies surrounding player Andreas Schjelderup, he was substituted in during the second half as Norway comfortably managed the game. With their victory, the Norwegian players celebrated a likely World Cup berth.

Norway’s qualification will be mathematically confirmed if Italy fails to win against Moldova later in the week. Otherwise, they await their decisive clash at the San Siro on Sunday.

Estonia’s Campaign Summary

For Estonia, this match concluded a challenging qualification journey, finishing with only four points and one win from eight matches. Their aspirations for World Cup participation remain distant.