NEW DELHI — Erling Haaland scored his fourth goal in as many qualifiers to
keep Norway perfect in Group I as they maintained their 100 per cent record with
a 1-0 win over Estonia in Tallinn in the UEFA qualifying for the FIFA World Cup
2026.
Norway dominated the first half but had to wait until the
62nd minute when Haaland finally made one of Norway’s glut of chances count.
The forward’s initial effort came off the crossbar, but he reacted quickest to
turn home the rebound and seal a joint-best fourth goal in UEFA qualifying.
Stale Solbakken’s men sit top of Group I, six points
ahead of chasing Israel while Estonia remain on three points just above bottom-placed
Moldova.
Meanwhile, Belgium let a three-goal lead slip before
eventually winning a topsy-turvy match 4-3 against Wales to clinch their first
win of UEFA qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26.
A Romelu Lukaku penalty and further strikes by Youri
Tielemens and Jeremy Doku gave the Red Devils a deserved lead inside the
opening half an hour. Wales spent most of the opening period penned inside
their own half but found a route back into the game through a spot-kick of
their own, as Harry Wilson netted in stoppage time, FIFA reports.
Craig Bellamy's side were quickest out of the blocks
after the break and reduced the arrears further when Brennan Johnson and Wilson
combined down the right and fed Sorba Thomas to side-foot home. That trio
linked up again in the 69th minute, as Thomas headed Wilson's cross into the
path of Johnson to nod in an improbable equaliser.
Lukaku looked to have won it for Belgium when he scored
with ten minutes to go, but his strike was disallowed following a lengthy VAR
review. It wouldn't matter, however, as Kevin De Bruyne stole in at the far
post and volleyed in Belgium's winner with less than three minutes on the
clock. Rudi Garcia's side move up to third and just three points behind their
opponents who have played two games more.
Elsewhere, Italy maintained their perfect record against
Moldova, defeating the visitors 2-0 in Reggio Emilia in coach Luciano
Spalletti’s final match.
Moldova almost took a shock lead within ten minutes when
striker Ion Nicolaescu flicked a beautiful header inside the far post. However,
VAR saved the Italians’ blushes. With the half winding down Napoli forward
Giacomo Raspadori hit a sweet volley low to the near post, giving Italy a 1-0
lead going into the break.
Shortly after the interval, Italy doubled their lead
through Andrea Cambiaso. The Juventus midfielder calmly finished inside the
penalty area after Sandro Tonali failed to make contact with Ricardo Orsolini’s
cut-back from the byline.
