Newcastle United Demolish Qarabag with Anthony Gordon's Four-Goal Masterclass
On the eve of the match, Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov remarked that Newcastle United possessed "a style of play that does not suit us," a statement that many interpreted as psychological warfare. However, by halftime, it became abundantly clear that Gurbanov had not engaged in mind games but had instead significantly underestimated the English side's capabilities. Had this encounter been a boxing match, it would have been halted within minutes due to the sheer dominance displayed by Newcastle.
Gordon's Blistering Pace Overwhelms Qarabag
From the opening whistle, Qarabag were utterly overwhelmed by the relentless pace and intensity of Newcastle, with Anthony Gordon emerging as the standout performer. The England winger, deployed in an unfamiliar centre-forward role, showcased his clinical finishing by scoring four goals, elevating his Champions League tally for the season to an impressive ten. His electrifying speed and precision left the Azerbaijani defence in disarray, setting the tone for a one-sided affair.
The 1,998 Newcastle supporters who embarked on a gruelling journey to the Caspian Sea, navigating indirect flights via cities like Istanbul and Warsaw, were richly rewarded with a commanding display from Eddie Howe's squad. This victory served as a much-needed tonic for Howe, who has faced numerous challenges in recent weeks, transforming a demanding trip to Baku's Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium into a rejuvenating experience akin to a luxurious spa retreat.
Newcastle Capitalise on Qarabag's Defensive Frailties
Newcastle must wish more opponents would attempt to play out from the back as ineffectively as Qarabag did, coupled with their passive surrender against Newcastle's aggressive high-press strategy. Despite Qarabag's notable Champions League victories over Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt, and FC Copenhagen this season, they capitulated under the relentless pressure, allowing Newcastle to seize control of this playoff tie for a place in the last sixteen.
The 2,529-mile journey undertaken by Howe's team marked the longest away trip ever made by an English club in Champions League history, yet they exhibited no signs of jet lag following their six-hour flight from Tyneside. The match had scarcely begun when Dan Burn channeled his inner Franz Beckenbauer, elegantly advancing from defence to deliver a perfectly weighted pass to Gordon, who emphatically lashed home his seventh Champions League goal of the campaign.
Defensive Contributions and Gordon's Penalty Precision
Not to be overshadowed, central defender Malick Thiaw swiftly added a goal of his own, capitalising on a clever corner routine orchestrated by Kieran Trippier to head Newcastle into a two-goal lead. Gordon continued his rampage, converting a penalty after Matheus Silva handled in the area, completing his hat-trick by dispossessing Kevin Medina and rounding goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, and then slotting home another penalty following a foul by Kochalski.
Aside from that incident, Kochalski performed admirably, making several crucial saves to prevent the scoreline from escalating into double figures. Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was largely a spectator until early in the second half when Elvin Cafarquliyev's low, hard shot found the net, momentarily disrupting Newcastle's concentration and prompting wild celebrations from the home fans.
Substitutions and Sealing the Victory
Gurbanov adjusted his defence to a back five, rendering Qarabag more resilient, a shift potentially aided by a series of Newcastle substitutions as Howe's attention turned to the upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester City. The absence of the injured Bruno Guimarães may be more keenly felt in that fixture, but in Baku, substitute Jacob Murphy sealed the 6-1 victory with a curling left-footed shot that deflected past Kochalski, capping off a thoroughly convincing performance.
