Norway cruise past ten-man Moldova

Mushaga Bakenga scored a fine hat-trick as the group hosts cruised to an emphatic victory against ten-man Moldova in their opening game in UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round Group 6.

Bakenga opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Eugeniu Golovco was sent off for handball, before Yann-Erik de Lanlay extended Norway's lead seven minutes later. Bakenga completed his hat-trick either side of half-time to give the Scandinavian side a comfortable win and send them top of their section.

Norway dominated proceedings from start to finish and deservedly took the lead courtesy of Bakenga's spot kick. Bård Flovik's charges doubled their advantage when De Lanlay beat Veaceslav Voloşin at his near post and were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to a superb solo effort by Bakenga.

The victory was secured five minutes after the break when Bakenga got the final touch on substitute Thomas Drage's free-kick."I am pleased with the victory but I am not very happy about the performance," said Flovik. "We had chances to score more but we were a bit lazy."