Two goals in four first-half minutes put paid to Malta's hopes of obtaining a positive result in their first home Euro 2016 qualifier as Norway emerged 3-0 winners.
In keeping with coach Pietro Ghedin's upbeat message, Malta started brightly as they looked to take the game to Norway but in so doing, they left themselves exposed at the back as the visiting team scored two quick goals from counter-attacks to effectively end the game as a contest by the 26th minute.
Malta failed to recover from this double-setback, fading out as the game progressed with Norway taking full control in the second half which became a formality after Per Mathias Hogmo's team added a third after just four minutes.
A 3-0 home defeat was hardly the ideal way for Malta to prepare for what promises to be a much more difficult match against Italy on Monday.
With Steve Borg starting a three-match suspension, Roderick Briffa, who missed the Croatia qualifier due to injury, started at right-back.
Malta coach Pietro Ghedin stuck with 5-3-2 with Andrè Schembri and Michael Mifsud leading the attack.
Andrew Hogg, the Malta goalkeeper, was forced into an early save, pushing away Mats Moller Daehli's curling drive after good work by Joshua King.
The hosts created a half-chance on 14 minutes when Briffa touched the ball to Schembri on the right and the latter's cross flew towards Clayton Failla but the Hibs speedster skied his first-timer high and wide.
Hogg then did well to beat away Stefan Johansen's corner but midway into the first half, Norway took the lead.
King again inflicted the damage as Malta were caught on the counter. The Blackburn forward advanced before slipping the ball to the unmarked Daehli who slotted past Hogg.
Things got worse for Malta as, three minutes later, Norway doubled their advantage. Ghedin's men were again caught on the counter as the towering King ran on to a quick pass from the back, held off Andrei Agius and fired past Hogg.
On the half-hour, King again had the better of Zach Muscat and crossed for Tarik Elyounoussi who tapped home but the Norway forward was offside.
Malta took a while to recover after conceding two quick goals. Five minutes from half-time, the red-shirted players produced a promising move as Briffa, again cutting in from the right, picked out Mifsud who controlled well but his rising shot was too central to trouble Orjan Haskjold Nylan.
Less than a minute from the start of the second half had passed when Skjelbred supplied a teasing ball into the area but Elyounoussi lifted his shot over the bar.
When Agius, pushing out of defence, lost the ball on the halfway line, danger loomed for Malta. The visiting team were quick to transfer the ball forward and Skjelbred's excellent cross was headed in by King as Norway made it 3-0.
Elabdellaoui blasted wide after racing into the box as Norway continued to call the tune and, on 56 minutes, Hogg was quick off his line to anticipate King after the latter had powered his way past Agius.
Malta were unable to make a reaction. Daehli twisted and turned before producing a powerful drive that was beaten away by Hogg. The incoming Jone Samuelsen was wide after getting on the end of a cross at the far post.
Midway into the second half, Malta created a good chance to narrow the deficit as Paul Fenech's intelligent pass released Mifsud who raced past his marker but in so doing drifted too wide of goal. The Malta captain's ensuing cut-back lacked precision.
At the other end, Hogg again foiled King after the powerful forward had darted past Ryan Camilleri.
Ghedin made a double substitution, bringing on Justin Grioli and Bjorn Kristensen for Briffa and Ryan Fenech, but Norway remained in cruise control.
In stoppage time, Zach Muscat denied Norway a third goal with a sliding challenge on substitute Havard Nielsen who was about to connect with Elabdellaoui's cross.
Malta
An. Hogg, Z. Muscat, P. Fenech, A. Agius, R. Fenech (71 B. Kristensen), C. Failla, R. Briffa (71 J. Grioli), M. Mifsud, R. Muscat, A. Schembri (85 T. Vella), R. Camilleri.
Norway
O.H. Nyland, A. Tettey (77 H. Singh), H. Nordtveit, J. King (75 H. Nielsen), S.M. Johansen, T. Elyounoussi, O. Elabdellaoui, P.C. Skjelbred (62 J. Samuelsen), M. Linnes, M.M. Daehli, V, Forren.
Referee Antony Gautier (France).