Overview
- Alexander Sorloth scored twice shortly after the restart before Erling Haaland added a brace in a 12-minute burst, with Estonia netting a consolation.
- Midfielder Morten Thorsby credited Haaland’s calm team talk at the break for resetting belief, and defender Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem said the directive was to deliver more crosses.
- Haaland extended his Norway scoring record to 53 goals as he captained the side in Martin Odegaard’s absence.
- The result leaves Norway on the verge of their first World Cup since 1998, with Italy facing the playoffs unless they achieve an implausible goal-difference swing.
- Supporters and players celebrated in Oslo, while manager Stale Solbakken tempered lofty forecasts voiced by former coach Egil ‘Drillo’ Olsen.