Anthony Gordon scores four at Qarabag as Newcastle United move to brink of Champions League last 16
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Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon (centre, left) celebrating after scoring one of his four goals in the 6-1 Champions League knockout play-off, first-leg win at Qarabag at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Feb 18.
PHOTO: EPA
- Newcastle United thrashed Qarabag 6-1 away in their Champions League playoff first leg, nearly securing a last-16 spot.
- Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals, including two penalties, contributing significantly to Newcastle's dominant 6-1 victory.
- Despite missing eight key players and a 4,000km trip, injury-hit Newcastle secured a crucial win, boosting their Champions League last-16 hopes.
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BAKU – Anthony Gordon struck four times in the first half as Newcastle United thrashed Qarabag 6-1 away in their Champions League knockout play-off, first leg on Feb 18 to all but book their place in the last 16.
The England forward has now netted 14 times this season, including 10 in the Champions League, taking him past Alan Shearer as Newcastle’s highest scorer in a single campaign in Europe’s elite club competition.
He has more goals in the competition than Harry Kane (eight) and Erling Haaland (seven), with only Kylian Mbappe (13) ahead of him.
“He was really good in that first half. He started the press, a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
“He could have had more, but a very good display.”
Gordon added: “The records are nice, of course, but football is about the team. Individual moments only matter if the team succeeds – and tonight, that was the most important thing.”
Gordon’s 33-minute haul was also the fastest Champions League hat-trick by an English player. He is also only the third Newcastle player to score a Champions League treble, after Shearer and Faustino Asprilla.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the third minute and Malick Thiaw headed in from a corner six minutes later to earn a two-goal lead.
Gordon made it 3-0 from the spot in the 32nd minute following a handball and added his third a minute later after a defensive error.
The Englishman converted another penalty in added time before the break, after goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski brought him down inside the box.
Elvin Jafarguliyev pulled one back in the 56th minute, before substitute Jacob Murphy’s deflected strike in the 72nd minute sealed a dominant win for the English Premier League side in Baku.
Howe’s injury-hit side, the only Premier League team not to qualify directly for the last 16, arrived in Azerbaijan on the back of successive away wins over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League Aston Villa in the FA Cup
They made it three on the spin in style, despite missing eight first-team players including captain Bruno Guimaraes.
They also had to take the longest journey ever undertaken by an English club for a Champions League away match, the 4,070km-trip from Newcastle upon Tyne to Baku.
Having ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the League Cup last season
He admitted it would “mean everything” to steer them into the Champions League last 16 for the first time.
Barring a miracle comeback from Qarabag on Feb 24, his side will face Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16. REUTERS, AFP
