Having all but clinched their qualification for next summer’s tournament, Stale Solbakken’s Norway side travelled to Milan full of confidence.
It was the hosts, however, who started on the front foot, and their early intent was rewarded with a breakthrough in the 11th minute, as Federico Dimarco’s pass found Francesco Esposito, who turned sharply in the box before finishing through the body of Orjan Nyland.
Keen to build on that opener, Italy remained the dominant team as the first half progressed, with the Azzurri seeing plenty of the ball in the Norway half.
Clear-cut chances came at a premium, though, as Esposito directed a close-range header wastefully wide of the target.
Grateful to only be one goal behind at half-time, the visitors needed a change of plan to maintain their chances of a first unbeaten World Cup qualification cycle in 28 years.
Alexander Sorloth and Kristian Thorstvedt embodied Norway’s determination to make amends for a poor first half, with both men directing efforts narrowly wide when well-placed in the box.
Not disheartened, Norway continued to probe for an equaliser past the hour mark, and it duly arrived in the 63rd minute, as Antonio Nusa drove into the box and fired a superb strike beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.
That set up a fascinating final 25 minutes in Milan, with Donnarumma denying Nusa a quickfire second, while at the other end, Dimarco and Esposito saw close-range efforts thwarted by Nyland.
But having been kept quiet for 78 minutes, Erling Haaland delivered once again for his nation, with the talismanic striker sensationally turning the game in Norway’s favour with two goals in as many minutes.
First, he converted a sublime volley from Oscar Bobb’s inch-perfect delivery, before netting his 55th international strike via a composed outside-of-the-foot finish after good work by Morten Thorsby.
Stunned by the visitors’ three-goal flurry, Italy tried to regain some semblance of composure in the closing stages to mount a comeback of their own.
However, Norway showed no signs of letting up, and Solbakken’s men added a fourth in stoppage time through substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen’s brilliant solo goal, putting the seal on a famous victory for the Red, White and Blue.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Antonio Nusa (Norway)