Erling Haaland's comment to Moldova goalkeeper he scored FIVE against sums him up

Humiliated Moldova goalkeeper Cristian Avram has revealed what Erling Haaland told him after the Manchester City star netted FIVE times in Norway's remarkable 11-1 win. Haaland, 25, helped obliterate Moldova's defence on an historic night in Oslo.

The striker scored a 43rd-minute hat-trick and put Norway 6-0 up with his fourth goal before the hour mark. In their bid to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1998, the hosts didn't slow down and Haaland was being urged to keep his foot on the throttle.

Even after Norway's seventh, eighth and ninth goals, Haaland retrieved the ball from the back of the net and sprinted towards the halfway line to get the game restarted - much to Moldova's despair. At least he saved Avram a job before the 31-year-old faced up to the media.

During a post-match interview with Norwegian broadcaster TV2, Avram began by saying: "Hello, I'm the goalkeeper for Moldova and I conceded 11 goals."

The goalkeeper then revealed Haaland's respectful comment. "I spoke to Erling," Avram explained. "He said, 'It's not my fault' and that he just had to keep trying to score because of the goal difference. I understand him.

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"It's part of the game. He wanted to keep fighting."

Asked how it feels to have conceded 11 goals, Avram replied: "Look at me, what can I say? I'm not going to die. I have to stay strong. In a few days I have another match. But 11 goals is a lot."

As for Haaland's assessment, he said after full-time: "This is pretty sick, I have to say. It speaks for itself."

Norway boss Stale Solbakken praised the 25-year-old for his display and for allowing team-mate Thelo Aasgaard to take a penalty which got him his hat-trick. "It can't be done better," Solbakken hailed. "Five goals, two assists and he gives away a penalty kick."

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Sitting top of the Group I, Norway are now six points clear of second-placed Italy with three and four games respectively left to play. The teams will meet in Milan on the final matchday in November but if Norway win their two games beforehand, Italy's only hope of qualifying automatically would be winning that match and bettering their opponents' goal difference.

Thanks to thrashing Moldova, Norway are 16 goals better off than Italy, who are currently set for the play-offs which will take place in March. But Haaland isn't getting ahead of himself, having never represented Norway in a major tournament.

"We're three games away," he reiterated. "I must be boring, but we have to win at least two more, then we'll see."

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