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By Goli Innocent
Anthony Gordon delivered a stunning four-goal performance as Newcastle United crushed Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday night. The England forward struck four times before half-time to all but seal his side’s passage to the last 16.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the third minute at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, timing his run perfectly before finishing into the far corner. Newcastle doubled their lead five minutes later when Malick Thiaw headed home from Kieran Trippier’s cross, exposing Qarabag’s fragile defence early on.
Gordon made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot after Matheus Silva handled Harvey Barnes’ effort. Barely a minute later, he capitalised on Kevin Medina’s slip, rounded goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski and slotted into an empty net to complete his hat-trick — the first of his professional career.
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He was not finished. After being fouled inside the area, Gordon converted his second penalty of the night to take his tally to four inside 33 minutes the fastest Champions League hat-trick by an English player and a haul that moved him to 10 goals in this season’s competition.
Qarabag briefly reduced the deficit in the 54th minute through Elvin Jafarguliyev, whose strike was initially ruled out for offside before VAR allowed it to stand. But Jacob Murphy restored Newcastle’s five-goal cushion in the 72nd minute with a deflected effort to complete the rout.
The emphatic win puts Eddie Howe’s side in firm control ahead of the second leg at St James’ Park on February 24. Barring a dramatic collapse, Newcastle are set to face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16 as they continue their push for European history.
