Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals as Newcastle all but booked a Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea or Barcelona by thrashing Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of their knockout play-off.
Gordon took his tally to 10 in Europe this season by scoring in the third minute, netting two penalties and rounding goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, who was also beaten by Malick Thiaw’s header in an extraordinary opening period and Jacob Murphy’s deflected effort in the second half.
Despite the five-goal lead at half-time, Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier and Gordon had to be separated by their team-mates as they headed for the dressing rooms, with their dispute seemingly over the forward taking the second penalty. However, they appeared to make up with a hug when Gordon was substituted in the second half.
Newcastle had 16 shots in the first half and 11 of those were on target as Kochalski prevented further embarrassment by making six saves to deny the rampant visitors, who had striker Nick Woltemade pulling the strings in midfield.
Newcastle made light work of the 2,529-mile journey to Azerbaijan, the longest-ever distance travelled by an English club for a Champions League away match, as they went two up inside eight minutes. Gordon finished well after Dan Burn had surged forward and played him in before Thiaw rose to head in Trippier’s cross.
Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw (centre) celebrates his first-half header
Eddie Howe’s side should have been further ahead by the time Gordon smashed a penalty into the left corner after Matheus Silva was penalised for handball. But straight from the restart, he pounced on more schoolboy defending to round Kochalski for his hat-trick and Newcastle’s fourth in the 33rd minute.
There was still time for more as Gordon was then brought down by the goalkeeper and, after a brief discussion with Trippier, the forward sent the spot kick in the opposite corner to his first penalty, moving him second behind Kylian Mbappe in the competition’s scoring charts this season.
Newcastle eased off after the break and Qarabag left-back Elvin Cafarquliyev punished them, firing a shot from an angle through Nick Pope with the goal awarded by VAR after initially being ruled out for offside.
Cafarquliyev was then involved in the seventh goal of the night and Newcastle’s sixth, diverting substitute Murphy’s shot from outside the box past his goalkeeper.
Newcastle visit title-chasing Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday evening followed by the second leg against Qarabag on Tuesday February 24.
Howe: A great day but tie isn’t dead
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe:
“I want to pay tribute to the team because we were really good in the first half. That’s as good as we’ve played in a long time. We were really good with our press, the attitude of the players to regain the ball high was brilliant.
“It’s a great day for us. We know the tie’s not dead but we’ve put ourselves in a great position. We’ve got to be professional in every moment, we know how football can change.
“We’ve just won three games in the blink of an eye and the feeling is very different. We respect every opponent and we have to be very good in the next game.”
On Gordon: “He was really good in the first half. He started the press. A number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball. His first goal was a key moment, a really good finish. He could have had more but a very good display.
On Woltemade playing in midfield: “Nick was really good. Off the ball, excellent. Tactically, understood what was asked of him. He was very reliable in possession; I don’t think he gave the ball away. He was very good in some awkward situations. He also has that creative flair that we need in that position.”
