Anthony Gordon Scores Four as Newcastle Thrash Qarabag 6-1 in Champions League Play-Off
Anthony Gordon stole the spotlight as Newcastle United delivered a dominant 6-1 victory over Qarabag in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie in Baku on Wednesday.
Gordon netted an extraordinary four goals before halftime at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, putting Newcastle firmly in control of the tie. Malick Thiaw also scored for Newcastle in the first half, while Jacob Murphy added a goal in the second half to complete the emphatic win. Qarabag’s Elvin Jafarguliyev scored a consolation in the 54th minute.
The 24-year-old England forward has now scored 14 goals this season, including 10 in the Champions League, surpassing Alan Shearer as Newcastle’s top scorer in a single European campaign. His first professional hat-trick came within 33 minutes, marking the fastest Champions League hat-trick by an English player and making him the third Newcastle player to score a treble in Europe after Shearer and Faustino Asprilla.
Manager Eddie Howe praised Gordon’s performance, highlighting that the player’s central role in attack paid off immediately, with Newcastle taking the lead in just three minutes. Dan Burn’s precise pass set up Gordon’s opener, beating the Qarabag offside trap and finishing into the far corner.
Qarabag, who previously beat teams like Benfica and drew with Chelsea in the group stage, were unable to handle Newcastle’s attacking display. Newcastle doubled the advantage in the eighth minute through Thiaw’s header from a Kieran Trippier cross and extended the lead further with Gordon’s penalty in the 32nd minute. Gordon added two more goals before halftime, including a second penalty earned after being fouled in the area.
The resounding victory sets Newcastle up comfortably for the second leg at St. James’ Park on February 24, with the team likely to face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16. Newcastle, who ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the League Cup last season, now have Champions League progression firmly in sight.
The win also served as a strong response after Newcastle’s recent domestic setbacks, rejuvenating the squad following successive away victories against Tottenham in the Premier League and Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Newcastle’s tactical decision to deploy Gordon as the central striker proved decisive, while German forward Nick Woltemade took a deeper role. The team’s relentless attack highlighted weaknesses in Qarabag’s defense, culminating in a commanding display on one of the longest journeys ever undertaken by an English team for a Champions League knockout game.
