Erling Haaland hits hat-trick despite two penalty misses as Norway crush Israel 5-0 in World Cup qualifying

Haaland had the chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute, but Daniel Peretz saved the effort for the visitors.

The referee ruled that Peretz had moved off his line before the spot-kick was struck, and ordered that it be retaken, giving Haaland another chance.

Peretz again saved on the second attempt, and this time the referee allowed play to continue.

Norway then took the lead on 18 minutes, when Anan Khalaili put through his own net with a misdirected header.

Nine minutes later, Atletico Madrid forward Alexander Sorloth teed up Haaland for his first of the game with his right foot, and a minute later Israel were 3-0 down when Idan Nachmias scored their second own goal. After Peretz’s penalty heroics, he was the villain as his clearance struck his team-mate and went into his own goal.

Haaland had to wait until the second half for the chance to complete his hat-trick, adding goals in the 63rd and 72nd minutes, with both efforts coming through headers.

The hat-trick – his sixth for his country so far – took the 25-year-old forward onto 51 goals for Norway after just 46 appearances, and he has 12 goals in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

Norway now boast 18 points after six games, moving them six points clear of Italy, who have 12 after playing five matches. The defeat leaves Israel in third spot, with nine points after three defeats and three wins.

Haaland’s country have not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, and while Italy can still mathematically top the group, the Norwegians appear on course to qualify.

Norway’s next match is an international friendly, at home to New Zealand on Tuesday. Their remaining group games will be played in the November international break. They host Estonia on November 13, before travelling to Italy for a potentially decisive game on November 16.

Italy defeated Estonia 3-1 as they travelled to Tallinn. Fiorentina striker Moise Kean scored the opening goal after four minutes, before Mateo Retegui added a second on 38 minutes. Francesco Esposito made it three with his first international goal.

Haaland’s club team-mate, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, then failed to hold onto a cross, allowing Rauno Sappinen to convert for Estonia’s consolation goal.

Italy play host to Israel on Tuesday, October 14, with a win giving them the chance to whittle Norway’s lead at the top to three points ahead of November’s round of matches.