Erling Haaland scores five in Norway’s 11-goal demolition of Moldova

Erling Haaland helped himself to five goals as Norway routed Moldova 11-1, while Cristiano Ronaldo equalled a World Cup qualifying record in Portugal’s win over Hungary.

Haaland was in unstoppable form in Oslo, leading the way in a thoroughly one-sided Group I clash that maintained his side’s 100 per cent record after five games.

Haaland had his fifth international hat-trick by half-time, netting three times between the 11th and 43rd minute, and snatched another couple in the second half as he stretched his remarkable scoring record to 48 in 45 caps.

Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard scored four despite only coming on in the 64th minute and there further goals for Felix Horn Myre and Martin Odegaard. Even Moldova’s consolation came from a Norwegian player, Leo Ostigard with the own goal.

Forty-year-old Ronaldo also had a day to remember, notching his 39th goal in World Cup qualifying – equalling the mark set by Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala. Ronaldo stepped up for a 58th minute penalty with the score at 1-1 and converted as he played his part in a 3-2 victory in Hungary.

Barnabas Varga put the home side ahead at Puskas Arena before Bernardo Silva levelled. Varga struck again to equalise in the 84th minute but Joao Cancelo won it to keep Portugal top of Group F after two games.

Armenia sprung a surprise in the group’s other match, defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1.

Eduard Spertsyan, who fired Armenia to victory over the Irish in another shock win three years ago, and Grant-Leon Ranos added a second soon after the restart. Evan Ferguson pulled one back but it was not enough to prevent a costly loss.

France had to come from behind to see off Iceland 2-1 at Parc des Princes and stay atop Group D.

Andri Gudjohnsen put the visitors in front after 21 minutes only for a Kylian Mbappe penalty to restore parity just before the break.

Bradley Barcola put France in front and they held on despite Aurelien Tchouameni’s red card leaving them a man short for the last 22 minutes.

Azerbaijan claimed a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Baku.

Midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, who said this week his family home in Kyiv had been damaged by a Russian drone attack, put the visitors ahead when he swept home a low shot in the 51st minute.

But a handball from Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the door and Emin Mahmudov converted with 18 minutes remaining as both sides took their first point of the campaign.

England enjoyed a morale-boosting 5-0 win over Serbia to kickstart Thomas Tuchel’s tenure while Kristjan Asllani scored the only goal as Albania beat Latvia in the other Group K fixture.

In Group H, Austria went level on points with Bosnia-Herzegovina after beating them 2-1 in Zenica while Romania drew 2-2 in Cyprus.