Arnautovic, with two goals, helps Austria to a 5-1 victory over Norway in the Nations League

(Deletes reference to Norway leading group on goal difference in second paragraph)

LINZ, Austria: Austria’s Marko Arnautovic scored twice as they beat Norway 5-1 in the Nations League on Sunday, with the hosts keeping the usually prolific Erling Haaland quiet as the captain’s defense collapsed around him during their clash in Group B3.

The result leaves Norway, Austria and Slovenia, who beat Kazakhstan 1-0 away, all level on seven points after four matches. Kazakhstan is in last position in the ranking with one point.

Haaland, who became Norway’s all-time top scorer with a brace in a 3-0 home win over Slovenia on Thursday that took him to 34 international goals, hit the post after six minutes, but that was as close as he got to scoring in a one-sided play.

Two minutes after Haaland approached, Austrian skipper Arnautovic fired a thunderbolt under the bar. Alexander Sorloth equalized in the 39th minute, but Norway found themselves trailing again four minutes after the break.

This time it was visiting defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen who was at fault, inexplicably diving headlong into the path of Christian Baumgartner to concede a penalty which Arnautovic drilled low to Orjan Nyland’s right to restore the lead. ‘advance.

Norway then collapsed from the 58th minute onwards as they conceded three soft headers in 13 minutes to Philipp Lienhart, Stefan Posch and Michael Gregoritsch, who scored four minutes after coming on, much to the disgust of visiting coach Stale Solbakken .