Norway secured a resounding 3-0 victory against Italy in their recent World Cup qualifying match, marking their first win against the Azzurri in 25 years. The match, played at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Friday, saw Erling Haaland leading the charge with a goal, contributing to Norway's dominant performance.

The victory was built on Norway's counter-attacking efficiency and clinical finishing. While Italy dominated ball possession with 63% and a higher pass accuracy of 90% compared to Norway's 85%, they failed to capitalize on their control of the midfield. Norway, in contrast, made the most of their limited possession, converting three of their four shots on target into goals.

Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring for Norway in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Italy. Antonio Nusa then doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a stunning solo effort, weaving through the Italian defense before unleashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Just before halftime, Erling Haaland added a third goal, rounding goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after receiving a through ball from Martin Ødegaard and slotting the ball into the empty net.

Italy struggled to mount a response, with their only shot on target coming late in stoppage time. Their attack was blunt, generating only 0.21 expected goals (xG) compared to Norway's 1.63 xG. The Italian defense, missing key players due to injuries and a voluntary absence of Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, looked shaky and disorganized.

The win puts Norway in a commanding position in Group I with nine points from three matches, while Italy sits in fourth place with zero points from one match. This defeat adds to Italy's woes in World Cup qualifiers, having failed to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The pressure is now on coach Luciano Spalletti to turn things around and secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

For Norway, this victory marks a significant step towards their goal of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998. Erling Haaland's performance, along with the contributions of Alexander Sørloth and Antonio Nusa, has given Norwegian fans reason to be optimistic about their chances.