Newcastle United Clinches 6-1 Victory As Gordon Bags Four In Champions League

Anthony Gordon delivered a historic performance for Newcastle United, scoring four times in the first half as Eddie Howe’s team beat Qarabag 6-1 in the Champions League play-off first leg in Azerbaijan, putting the Premier League side within reach of the group stage.

Newcastle’s attacking display overwhelmed Qarabag before the break, with Malick Thiaw and Jacob Murphy also on target and Elvin Cafarquliyev replying for the hosts. Gordon’s ruthless finishing, including two penalties and a rapid hat-trick, underlined the difference in quality during a one-sided contest.

The visitors struck almost immediately, taking the lead after just 122 seconds, Newcastle’s quickest goal in the Champions League. Dan Burn slipped a pass into the area and Gordon finished calmly. Qarabag were still regrouping when Thiaw rose highest in the ninth minute to head in Kieran Trippier’s deep cross from the right.

Newcastle’s advantage grew shortly after the half-hour. A handball by Matheus Silva inside the box gave Gordon his first penalty, which the forward converted with confidence. From Qarabag’s restart, Gordon pressed aggressively, stole possession from Kevin Medina, then rounded goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski to complete a rapid hat-trick.

There was more drama before half-time when Gordon was fouled by Kochalski, earning a second penalty. Trippier requested to take it, but Gordon stepped up again and scored, sealing four goals before the interval and leaving Newcastle 5-0 ahead, with Qarabag struggling to cope with the movement and tempo.

Qarabag eventually created a moment for the home supporters when Cafarquliyev found the net during the second half. The assistant initially flagged for offside, but the goal was later allowed, offering a brief lift. However, Newcastle still had the final say as Murphy’s long-range effort took a deflection and flew beyond Kochalski.

Newcastle’s victory also carried statistical weight. It was the first time the club scored six goals in European competition. Their dominance was reflected in the numbers, with the visitors consistently creating clear chances and restricting Qarabag to few meaningful attacks across the ninety minutes.

Gordon’s individual data highlighted the scale of the performance. The forward generated 3.36 of Newcastle’s 5.48 expected goals, had a team-high six shots, and recorded 11 touches in the penalty area plus 11 passes in the final third, showing impact both as a finisher and as a link player.

The statistics also confirmed Gordon’s place in Champions League history. Gordon became only the second player in Champions League history to score four goals in the first half of a game, after Luiz Adriano for Shakhtar Donetsk against BATE Borisov in October 2014. In addition, Gordon’s treble in 33 minutes set records for the fastest hat-trick by an English player, and by any player representing an English club, in the competition.

The result leaves Newcastle in a strong position before the second leg, with a five-goal cushion and an attacking display that will boost confidence. Qarabag, meanwhile, need a major response after conceding six at home, having struggled to limit Gordon and the rest of Howe’s front line.