Austria delivered a resounding 5-1 victory over Norway in their Nations League Group B3 match on Sunday, led by a brace from Marko Arnautovic. The result puts Austria, Norway, and Slovenia level on seven points, setting up an intense battle for group supremacy, with Kazakhstan trailing with just one point.
Norway entered the match with high hopes after a 3-0 win over Slovenia, where Erling Haaland set a national record with 34 international goals. However, Austria kept Haaland quiet throughout the match, neutralizing his influence and limiting Norway’s attacking threat.
Haaland came close to scoring in the sixth minute when his shot hit the post, but Austria responded swiftly. Just two minutes later, Arnautovic smashed the ball in off the crossbar to give the hosts an early lead. Norway managed to equalize in the 39th minute through Alexander Sorloth, but Austria quickly regained control.
Early in the second half, Norwegian defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen conceded a careless penalty by fouling Christian Baumgartner inside the box. Arnautovic calmly converted the spot-kick, restoring Austria’s advantage.
Norway’s defense then fell apart as Austria piled on the pressure. Between the 58th and 71st minutes, the hosts scored three more goals with headers from Philipp Lienhart, Stefan Posch, and substitute Michael Gregoritsch. Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken could only watch in frustration as his side unraveled.
Despite Norway’s recent form, their inability to capitalize on early chances and lapses in defense proved costly. Haaland, usually a potent force, struggled against Austria’s disciplined backline, leaving Norway with little hope of a comeback.
With three matches remaining, Austria, Norway, and Slovenia remain locked in a tight race for promotion to League A. Austria’s commanding win has boosted their momentum, but all three teams will need to remain sharp in their pursuit of group honors.
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