BAKU, Azerbaijan – Anthony Gordon delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday, scoring four first-half goals as Newcastle United dismantled Qarabag FK 6-1 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off. The result all but secures Newcastle’s place in the last 16, where they are likely to face either Chelsea or Barcelona.
Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov had suggested before the match that Newcastle’s style of play wouldn’t suit his team. By halftime, it was clear that assessment was a significant understatement. Newcastle’s relentless pace and aggressive pressing proved too much for the Azerbaijani side, with Gordon at the heart of the onslaught.
The Magpies needed less than three minutes to open the scoring. Dan Burn, surging forward from defense, played a perfectly weighted pass to Gordon, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. Just five minutes later, Malick Thiaw doubled Newcastle’s advantage, heading home a Kieran Trippier corner. The early goals silenced the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium and set the tone for a dominant first half.
Gordon then took center stage, converting a penalty in the 32nd minute after a VAR review confirmed a handball. He added his third just before the break, dispossessing Kevin Medina before rounding goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski. Remarkably, Gordon wasn’t finished. He won another penalty, and despite a brief on-field dispute with captain Kieran Trippier over who should take it, calmly dispatched it to complete his four-goal haul before halftime.
“That’s as good as we’ve played in a long time,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said after the match. “It’s a great day for us.”
The 2,529-mile journey to Baku represented the longest away trip ever undertaken by an English club in the Champions League. However, Newcastle showed no signs of fatigue, displaying a level of energy and intensity that overwhelmed their hosts. The team’s ability to perform at such a high level despite the logistical challenges was a testament to their fitness, and preparation.
Qarabag did manage to pull a goal back early in the second half through Elvin Cafarquliyev, briefly raising the hopes of the home crowd. However, Newcastle quickly extinguished any momentum, with substitute Jacob Murphy restoring the five-goal cushion with a deflected strike from distance.
The match highlighted Newcastle’s attacking prowess and tactical flexibility. Gordon’s deployment as a center-forward, with Nick Woltemade playing in the No. 10 role, proved particularly effective. The team’s ability to exploit space in behind the Qarabag defense and their clinical finishing were key to their success.
While Kochalski made several impressive saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming even more lopsided, the Qarabag goalkeeper was ultimately helpless against the relentless Newcastle attack. The home side’s attempts to play out from the back were repeatedly undone by Newcastle’s aggressive pressing, leading to numerous turnovers and scoring opportunities.
The first-leg victory puts Newcastle in a commanding position heading into the return leg at St. James’ Park on . While Howe cautioned that the tie isn’t over, the magnitude of the first-leg result suggests that Newcastle is all but guaranteed a place in the Champions League last 16. The prospect of facing either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round will undoubtedly excite Newcastle fans.
Gordon’s four-goal performance was not only a personal triumph but also a historic one. He surpassed Alan Shearer as the club’s all-time leading Champions League goalscorer, cementing his place in Newcastle folklore. His ten goals in Europe this season demonstrate his growing importance to the team.
Despite the comfortable lead, Howe made several substitutions in the second half, potentially with an eye towards Saturday’s Premier League match against Manchester City. The absence of the injured Bruno Guimarães may be keenly felt at the Etihad Stadium, and Howe will be hoping his key players return from Azerbaijan unscathed.
The second leg promises to be a more relaxed affair for Newcastle, but Howe will undoubtedly demand the same level of professionalism and commitment from his players. For Qarabag, the task of overturning a 5-goal deficit at St. James’ Park appears insurmountable. Newcastle’s dominant performance in Baku has sent a clear message to their rivals: they are a force to be reckoned with in this season’s Champions League.
