NORWAY-2, MALTA-0
This was too big a challenge for Malta. Hunting a win to edge closer to qualification for the Euro 2016 finals, Norway dominated from start to finish to secure a deserved 2-0 victory to consolidate second place in Group H.
The hosts were by far the better team, applying constant pressure on the Maltese defence who tried really hard to limit the damage but their opponents' attacking prowess proved too much for them.
While the Malta players clearly did their best, this was certainly not their best performance in this qualifying campaign as Pietro Ghedin's men were sloppy in possession, lacked power in midfield and at times looked tame in defence.
The only positive for Malta was that they restricted Norway to only two goals, a kind of feat in itself given Norway's superiority, but our players must clearly raise their game if they are to give a better account of themselves in Tuesday's final Group H qualifier at home to Croatia.
Alfred Effiong started ahead of Michael Mifsud in attack as Ghedin opted to field one pure striker with Andrè Schembri behind. Anticipating a Norwegian blitz, Ghedin reverted to five at the back but this did little to stop the hosts from dictating matters from the outset.
Defender Even Hovland headed wide from Stefam Johansen's corner in the opening minutes as the home fans, sporting their county's red, blue and white colours, raised the volume.
Norway dominated possession, often switching the ball wide as they sought to penetrate the Maltese defence from the right.
On 10 minutes, Markus Henriksen advanced through the middle but his drive was blocked by Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
Hovland was wide after getting on the end of another Johansen corner.
The danger for Malta refused to abate. Henriksen surged in to the box and, profiting from a short clearance, crossed for Soderlund but Alex Muscat nipped in to deflect the ball away for a corner..
From the ensuing set-piece, taken by the usual Johansen, the ball landed at the feet of Alexander Tettey who managed to lift the ball past a clutch of Maltese bodies and into the net. Norway kept coming.
Hogg did well to fist the ball away from Soderlund who collided with captain Per Ciljan Skjelbred who had ran past Clayton Failla to latch on to a long ball from midfield.
.Malta were struggling to make an impact up front as Effiong and Schembri were too isolated
Skjelbred, the main creative force in this Norway team, was denied by Hogg who beat away his dangerous grounder on 35 minutes but Maltese were conceding too many corners.
Four minutes from half-time, Hovland's long pass freed Soderlund who swept past Agius inside the box but his effort was stopped by Hogg.
A miscued pass from Nevland created an opening for Malta as Fenech picked up possession before releasing Effiong who sprinted into the box but his effort was turned away for a corner by Nyland. Norway almost doubled their lead but Jo Inge Berget's header, from Elabdellaoui's cross, was neutralised by the alert Hogg.
The second half had only just started when Norway went close again. Forren was first to Johansen's left-wing corner but his near-post header was flicked away by Fenech.
Moments later, Effiong managed to run behind the Norwegian defenders but he was anticipated by Nyland.
The game was as good as over when Norway increased their lead six minutes into the second half. This time, the danger stemmed from the right as Henriksen swept past Agius inside the box before sending in a cross-shot that Borg could only deflect towards Hogg who partially repelled the ball but in flash Soderlund to touch home from point blank. Odegaard, who had just come on for Skjelbred, was unlucky not to make an instant impact as his close-range effort came off Hogg's trailing leg after a cute one-two between Henriksen and Berget opened up the overworked Maltese defence.
Norway
O. Nyland, E. Hovland, A. Tettey, S. Johansen, A. Soderlund (77 J. King), M. Henriksen, O. Elabdellaoui, P.S. Sjkelbred (53 M. Odegaard), H. Aleesami, J.I. Berget (84 Valon Berisha), V. Forren.
Malta
An. Hogg, A. Muscat (56 J. Zerafa), A. Agius, P. Fenech, C. Failla, R. Briffa, R. Muscat, A. Schembri (81 B. Kristensen), S. Borg (83 R. Camilleri), A. Effiong, Z. Muscat.
Referee Arnold Hunter (Northern Ireland).
Meanwhile, Italy beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku, which means the Italians booked their ticket for France. Italy opened the score through Eder, before Nazarov obtained the equaliser. But El Shaarawy e Darmian got the goals that mattered to put Italy through.