In fine style, Norway overcame a major hurdle in their mission to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup since 1998 by beating Italy 3-0 – their third win in as many Group C fixtures. Meanwhile, the Azzurri saw their winless run in all competitions stretch to four matches.

Having scored nine times across their first two qualifiers, the home side showed little sign of slowing in front of goal when they took the lead inside 15 minutes. Antonio Nusa received the ball in his own half, went on a mazy run, and slid a perfect pass through to Alexander Sørloth. Sørloth shrugged off his marker and slotted the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

In the heavy rain in Oslo, the Italians struggled to mount a response – their only effort in the first half was Giacomo Raspadori's shot from a tight angle, which flew over the bar.

At the other end, Donnarumma needed to use his hand quickly at his near post to deny Sorloth a second goal just after the half-hour mark. However, Nusa doubled Norway’s lead on their next attack.

The RB Leipzig winger cut in from the left wing, skipped between a couple of defenders, and powered a shot past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.

Just before half-time, the Norwegians found themselves in dreamland when Martin Ødegaard played a ball through to Erling Haaland. Haaland rounded Donnarumma in one touch and tucked away his 41st international goal to make it 3–0.

Italy had not conceded an away goal in a World Cup qualifier since 2017, but despite their improved performance in the second half, they were unable to prevent Norway from scoring again in the 65^(th) minute. Following a short free-kick from Odegaard, Sander Berge hit the post with a powerful shot from 20 yards.

Luciano Spalletti’s side offered little going forward, not having a single shot on goal until added time when Lorenzo Lucca's header was caught by Orjan Nyland.

Nevertheless, a third successive failure to qualify is still far from a reality after this, their first match of the WCQ campaign.

Meanwhile, for Stale Solbakken’s team, it’s a fifth consecutive win by an aggregate score of 21–3, and only the second time this century that they have won three WCQ matches in a row.