1 week ago
126
Norway win 11-1
©IMAGO
It was an extraordinary evening for Norway and Erling Haaland on Tuesday. Norway managed to beat Moldova 11-1 at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo with Haaland scoring five times (11’, 36’, 43’, 52’, and 83’). The other six Norway goals were scored by Felix Horn Myhre (6’), Martin Ødegaard (45’), Theo Aasgaard (67’, 76’, 79’, and 91’). Moldova’s loan goal was also scored by a Norwegian, with Leo Østigard producing an own goal in the second half (74’).
That lone Moldova goal means that Norway misses out on the second-highest win in European World Cup qualifying in history. As revealed by the Transfermarkt database, the highest win in European World Cup qualifying dates back to 1969 when West Germany beat Cyprus 12-0. Norway’s victory tonight shares second place among the highest European qualification victories with Hungary’s 11-1 smashing over Greece in 1938. That game took place before UEFA was founded. Also in second place is Macedonia’s 11-1 victory over Liechtenstein in 1996.
Where does this win rank? Outside of Europe, big wins appear to be more common. The biggest win in World Cup qualification was recorded by Australia in 2001. The Socceroos beat American Samoa 31-0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle. Despite that result and also beating Tonga 22-0 in the same qualification cycle, Australia wouldn’t qualify for the tournament in Korea and Japan. Iran, in the meantime, has three results in the top ten. The Asian country beat Guam 19-0 in 2000, the Maldives 17-0 in 1997, and Cambodia 14-0 in 2019.
Haaland behind Krankl – Most goals scored by a player in World Cup qualifying
Where does Haaland’s performance rank? Make no mistake, the Man City striker was outstanding against Moldova. Not only did Haaland manage to score five goals, but the 25-year-old also added two assists to his name. Overall, Haaland has now managed an incredible 48 goals in 44 games for his country. The five goals tonight were also the second-most goals scored by a European in World Cup qualifying. The record is held by Hans Krankl. The Austrian managed six goals in Austria’s 9-0 win over Malta in 1977. In the global ranking, Krankl comes in 11th and Haaland tenth. First is Australian forward Archie Thompson, who managed an incredible 13 goals in the above-mentioned 31-0 victory over Samoa (overview).
