Moldova goalkeeper Cristian Avram has opened up about his conversation with Erling Haaland after enduring one of the toughest nights of his career in a World Cup qualifying clash that ended 11–1 in favor of Norway.
The 31-year-old custodian was beaten twice within the opening 11 minutes and had already picked the ball out of his net five times by halftime. Haaland scored a first-half hat-trick, added two more after the break, and also provided an assist for Norway’s opener. Substitute Asgaard of Glasgow Rangers compounded Moldova’s misery with four goals in just 25 minutes.
Despite the humiliation, Avram revealed he found the courage to approach Haaland at the end of the match. Introducing himself as “the goalkeeper who conceded 11 goals,” Avram recounted how Haaland responded with a surprising mix of empathy and professionalism. According to Avram, the Manchester City striker told him, “It’s not my fault. I had to keep trying to score because we needed the biggest possible goal difference.”
The Moldovan shot-stopper admitted he understood Haaland’s explanation, recognizing that international football often demands ruthless efficiency, especially when goal difference could decide qualification. “He felt a bit bad for us, but he had to keep fighting for his team,” Avram reflected.
Haaland’s five-goal haul marked his best-ever performance in a Norway shirt and placed him in historic company. It was the first time in nearly half a century that a player had scored at least five goals in a World Cup qualifier, with Austria’s Hans Krankl last achieving the feat with six strikes in 1977.
For Avram, the night may remain unforgettable for painful reasons, yet his willingness to share the exchange with Haaland highlights the respect between professionals even in the most lopsided of contests. Moldova had previously lost 5–0 to Norway earlier in the campaign, though on that occasion, a different goalkeeper limited Haaland and Asgaard to just one goal each.
The heavy defeat underlined the gulf in class but also revealed the human side of one of football’s deadliest finishers, offering Avram a small consolation on an otherwise brutal night.
