Anthony Gordon scores four goals as Newcastle United beat Qarabağ 6-1 in the Champions League play-off By Maria
5 min read
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Newcastle United achieved a significant victory against Qarabağ in the first match of the Liga Campeões playoff. The English team defeated their Azerbaijani opponents 6-1 in Baku. Anthony Gordon shone with four goals scored in the first half.
The match took place this Wednesday at the Tofiq Bahramov stadium. The result leaves Newcastle in a very favorable position for the second leg. The second game is scheduled for February 24th at Newcastle.
English dominance was evident from the opening minutes. The visitors pressed high and created several opportunities. Qarabağ found it difficult to organize its defense throughout the match.
Newcastle’s overwhelming start to the match
The English team opened the scoring after just three minutes. Dan Burn launched accurately and Anthony Gordon finished in the low corner. Esse initial goal allowed the team to maintain a high offensive rhythm.
Malick Thiaw doubled the lead after eight minutes. Kieran Trippier crossed from the right and the defender headed it firmly. Newcastle continued to control the actions with ease.
Anthony Gordon’s poker in the first half
Anthony Gordon scored the second goal in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot. The infraction occurred after a hand touch inside the area. The attacker hit hard and the goalkeeper almost managed to save.
In the next minute the Englishman scored the third goal. Ele took advantage of the opponent’s defense and dribbled past the goalkeeper before pushing it into the net. Newcastle was already winning 4-0 at that time.
In the 45th minute, Gordon converted another penalty. Qarabağ’s goalkeeper committed a clear foul on him. With precise shooting, the striker completed four goals in the initial stage.
Gordon’s feat goes down in the history of the competition. Ele became the second player to score four times in a first half of Liga’s Campeões game. The break arrived with a score of 5-0 for the English.
Collective contributions to the rout
Jacob Murphy entered the second half and scored the team’s sixth goal. The shot from outside the area was deflected and went over the goalkeeper. Harvey Barnes participated directly in the play with precise assistance and the reserves maintained a high standard of performance.
Malick Thiaw, in addition to the goal, played confidently in defense. The defender intercepted several of Qarabağ’s attacks and helped get the ball out. Nick Woltemade also stood out in organizing the midfield and creating spaces for the attackers.
Qarabağ’s reaction in the second half
The home team closed the gap in the 54th minute. Elvin Jafarguliyev shot from a tight angle and had help from the net. Esse goal brought some energy to Qarabağ who started trying to press more.
Qarabağ increased possession after the break. The Azerbaijani team sought to explore spaces left by the English. Apesar of this Newcastle continued to manage the result calmly.
The substitutions helped Qarabağ to renew their strength on the field. Mesmo with the changes the team was unable to create real danger. The confrontation ended with a clear victory for the visitors.
Statistical superiority of visitors
Newcastle finished the match with 57.9 percent ball possession. The team finished 22 times compared to just eight from Qarabağ. Quatorze of these shots led to direct danger to the opponent’s goal.
The British dominated the actions within the Qarabağ area. Goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski had to make eight saves throughout the game. Essas numbers confirm the total control exercised by Newcastle.
Records achieved by Anthony Gordon in the competition
Anthony Gordon reached important milestones with his performance in this match. The striker surpassed the record of Alan Shearer as top scorer of Newcastle in Liga of Campeões by reaching ten goals in this edition. Antes Shearer held the record with six goals for the club. Gordon also equaled a historic feat by scoring four goals in the first half of Champions League’s game and he is the second player to achieve this after Luis Adriano in 2014. The Englishman joined the likes of Harry Kane who also achieved high goals in a single edition. His performance has contributed to 76 percent of Newcastle’s goals this season in European competition. Gordon was voted best player of the match by Uefa. The striker commented that the team’s focus is to win game by game and he highlighted the collective work that allowed the opportunities. The Newcastle fans celebrated the result despite the long journey of more than 2,500 miles to Baku. Coach Eddie Howe praised the team’s level, especially in the first half.
Preparation for the return game in Newcastle
Newcastle can manage the large advantage in the return match. The team hosts Qarabağ on February 24th at home. Coach Eddie Howe called for professionalism for the match at the St James Park stadium. Players must remain focused to confirm their qualification to the round of 16.
Tactical highlights of the English victory
The high pressure applied by Newcastle from the beginning destabilized Qarabağ. The English recovered the ball quickly in the opponent’s half. Essa strategy generated the main scoring opportunities throughout the first half.
Newcastle’s defense was solid despite the favorable score. The defenders organized the lines well and limited counterattacks. Apenas a momentary error allowed the home team to score a consolation goal.
The English midfield distributed the balls well and maintained the pace. Jogadores as well as Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock helped with the quick transition. Essa collective organization was fundamental to success away from home.
Impact of the result on the repechage
Newcastle is close to qualifying for the round of 16. The five-goal advantage allows the squad to rotate in the return game. Qarabağ needs an exceptional performance to reverse the aggregate score.
The victory reinforces Newcastle’s good moment in the European season. The English team demonstrated efficiency in decisive moments. Qarabağ continues with a respectable campaign in the competition but found an opponent at a high level.
The return match promises to be more balanced in terms of intensity. Newcastle can exploit the support of the fans at home. Qarabağ will try to explore any spaces left by the English.
