Haaland frustrated in Kazakhstan stalemate

Norway held to goalless draw in Astana

Norway's hopes of maintaining their perfect start to World Cup 2022 qualifying were dashed on Sunday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kazakhstan in Astana. Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland was kept quiet throughout the match, failing to register a single shot on target.

The result leaves Norway in second place in Group G, two points behind leaders Netherlands. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, remain bottom of the group with just one point from their four matches.

Haaland misfires

Haaland, who has scored 10 goals in his last seven matches for Borussia Dortmund, was closely marked by the Kazakhstan defence throughout the match.

The 20-year-old was clearly frustrated by his lack of service, and he was often seen gesturing to his teammates to get him more involved in the game.

Haaland's best chance of the match came in the second half when he was played through on goal by Martin Odegaard.

However, the Kazakhstan goalkeeper, Stas Pokatilov, made a good save to deny the striker.

Haaland's frustration was compounded by the fact that Norway failed to create many clear-cut chances throughout the match.

The Norwegians had more possession than their opponents, but they struggled to break down the Kazakhstan defence.

As a result, Norway were forced to settle for a point, which leaves their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup hanging in the balance.