Villa joy as three stars in goals

Three Villa stars were on target in Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Striker John Carew struck twice as Norway hammered Group C rivals Hungary 4-0, while strike partner and former Wolves forward Steffen Iversen added another.

The Villa striker was on the mark after 60 and 77 minutes as Norway kept up the pressure on leaders Greece.

Defender Olof Mellberg bagged a rare international goal as Sweden thrashed Iceland 5-0 to stay top of Group F.

Former Villa striker Marcus Allback scored twice in Solna.

Midfielder Stiliyan Petrov helped Bulgaria complete a quickfire double against Group G rivals Belarus.

On Saturday the Bulgarians were 2-0 victors in Minsk, and last night they the home return in Sofia 2-1.

Midfield

Keeper Thomas Sore-nsen kept a clean sheet helped by Martin Laur-sen's first international start for 18 months as Denmark kept their slim qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Latvia in Riga.

Birmingham loan striker Nicolas Bendtner played up front and ex-Blues winger Jesper Gronkjaer also figured for the Danes.

Shaun Maloney scored his first senior international goal in only his second start as he opened the scoring in Scotland's 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

The 24-year-old, playing left midfield, showed just why Martin O'Neill believes he will be a hit next season with a sweetly taken free-kick just after the half-hour mark.

Albion target Garry O'Connor completed the scoring before half-time, but the Scots were made to work for the three points after the break. Former Villa man and current Vfb Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger scored the winner for Germany's in a 2-1 success against Slovakia.