The Manchester CIty star was in positive type once more as Norway celebrated their World Cup qualification in type
Italy’s hopes of snatching prime spot in Group I resulted in distress after Norway produced a shocking second-half turnaround to win 4-1 at San Siro and seal their place at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup.
The Azzurri dominated the opening interval and took a deserved lead after 11 minutes. Federico Dimarco mixed with Mateo Retegui earlier than sliding a low move into Francesco Pio Esposito, who turned sharply and fired previous Orjan Nyland.
Italy continued to push, creating a number of openings by way of Dimarco’s deliveries and Politano’s crosses, however a second objective eluded them.
Norway, subdued and struggling to contain Erling Haaland or Alexander Sørloth, entered half-time lucky to path by just one.
No matter Stale Solbakken mentioned on the break reworked his facet. Norway got here out aggressive, with Sorloth twice going shut.
The strain lastly informed within the 63rd minute when Sorloth launched Antonio Nusa down the left. After a intelligent step-over from Berge allowed the ball to run by way of, Nusa shifted inside and drove a shot previous Gianluigi Donnarumma for 1-1.
Italy by no means recovered their management, and Haaland abruptly got here alive. First, within the 78th minute, he volleyed in Oscar Bobb’s cross to offer Norway the lead.
Three minutes later, Thorsby threaded a move by way of the Italian defence, and Haaland utilized a deft flicked end for his record-equalling sixteenth objective in World Cup qualifying.
The guests, now rampant, added a fourth in stoppage time. Morten Thorsby launched a counter, sending Jørgen Strand Larsen racing clear, and the substitute coolly slotted into the underside nook to finish a exceptional turnaround.