Anthony Gordon’s Historic Night: Newcastle United Dominate Qarabag 6-1 in Champions League Playoff

Anthony Gordon etched his name into Newcastle United’s history books with a stunning four-goal performance as the Magpies thrashed Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 playoff tie. The victory, secured at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Azerbaijan, all but guarantees Newcastle’s progression to the next round.

Gordon Surpasses Shearer’s Champions League Record

Gordon’s remarkable display not only propelled Newcastle to a commanding lead but likewise saw him surpass Alan Shearer as the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, with 10 goals. Previously, Shearer held the record with six goals. This achievement underscores Gordon’s growing importance to Eddie Howe’s side.

Match Highlights: A First-Half Blitz

Newcastle’s dominance was evident from the early stages, with Gordon opening the scoring in the 8th minute. He continued his onslaught, adding goals in the 32nd, 33rd, and 45+1st minutes to complete a first-half quadruplet. Thiaw also contributed to the first-half rout. Qarabag, despite having previously drawn against Chelsea and defeated Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Copenhagen, struggled to contain Newcastle’s relentless attack.

Second-Half Consolidation and Murphy’s Strike

While Newcastle eased off the pressure in the second half, allowing Qarabag to find a consolation goal in the 54th minute, the damage had already been done. Murphy sealed the victory for Newcastle in the 72nd minute, extending their lead to 6-1.

Howe Praises Gordon’s Performance

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe lauded Gordon’s performance, highlighting his pressing and overall contribution. “He was really good in that first half. He started the press, a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball,” Howe told TNT Sports as reported by Newcastle United’s official website. Howe also emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum, despite the comfortable lead.

Record-Breaking Night for Newcastle

Beyond Gordon’s individual achievement, Newcastle United broke several records during the match:

• Gordon became the second player to score four goals in the first half of a UEFA Champions League game, and the first to do so in the knockout stage.
• Newcastle fielded seven English players in their starting lineup – Gordon, Barnes, Pope, Trippier, Burn, Hall and Willock – the most from a Premier League side since Manchester United against Monaco in 1998.
• Newcastle became only the second side ever to lead a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game by 5+ goals at half-time, following Bayern Munich vs FC Porto in 2015.

Looking Ahead: Return Leg on February 25

With a significant advantage, Newcastle approaches the return leg on February 25 as firm favorites. While the tie is not yet formally concluded, the resounding victory in Azerbaijan has all but secured their place in the next stage of the Champions League. As reported by the BBC, Gordon was determined to take the penalty, demonstrating a single-mindedness reminiscent of Alan Shearer.