Gordon Bags Four Goals in Newcastle's 6-1 Rout of Qarabag
Anthony Gordon delivered an outstanding performance with four goals as Newcastle United demolished Qarabag 6-1 during the opening match of their Champions League qualification playoff on Wednesday night.
Gordon dominated the proceedings by scoring all four of his goals prior to the halftime whistle at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Malick Thiaw added another for Newcastle before the break while Jacob Murphy found the net after the interval to wrap up the comprehensive victory.
Elvin Jafarguliyev managed a response in the second half for the Azerbaijani side but it offered scant comfort to the understrength Qarabag who suffered from poor defending in their dismal display.
The England international Gordon has now scored 14 goals this season with 10 coming in the Champions League which surpasses Alan Shearer as Newcastle's leading marksman in one campaign of Europe's top club tournament.
Gordon's exceptional evening by the Caspian Sea guarantees that the return fixture at St James' Park on 24 February will likely be straightforward.
Unless Qarabag pulls off an extraordinary turnaround Eddie Howe's team will meet either Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16.
After securing Newcastle's first major trophy in 70 years by lifting the League Cup last term Howe aimed for further milestones this week confessing it would "mean everything" to guide them to the Champions League knockout stage for the debut time.
Howe's prized objective now appears easily attainable.
Following boos from supporters under two weeks earlier after losing to Brentford Newcastle travelled the 2529-mile distance to Baku refreshed by back-to-back away triumphs over Tottenham in the Premier League and Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
This marked the furthest trip any English club had undertaken for a Champions League elimination match yet Newcastle showed no tiredness as they tore apart Qarabag's backline.
Gordon lined up as Newcastle's main forward with Howe once more placing struggling German striker Nick Woltemade in a supporting position.
Gordon Takes Control
Howe's choice to centre the assault around Gordon bore fruit within three minutes.
Dan Burn surged forward from the back and delivered an excellent ball to Gordon who perfectly timed his movement to evade the Qarabag trap before firing a precise shot into the distant corner from 12 yards out.
Qarabag had overcome Benfica Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt while holding Chelsea to a draw during the group phase.
However their 6-0 defeat to Liverpool in the final group encounter seemed more ominous as Newcastle extended their lead in the eighth minute.
Kieran Trippier's accurate delivery found Thiaw who directed a calm header beyond Mateusz Kochalski from near range.
Newcastle were slicing through the fragile Qarabag rearguard effortlessly and their onslaught yielded a third in the 32nd minute.
Matheus Silva used his arm to stop Harvey Barnes' effort while sliding on the pitch and Gordon calmly dispatched the penalty.
Gordon claimed his third in sharp fashion merely 60 seconds on by capitalising on Kevin Medina's mistake rounding Kochalski and tapping into the unattended goal.
This represented Gordon's inaugural professional hat-trick positioning him as just the third Newcastle player to achieve a Champions League treble alongside Shearer and Faustino Asprilla.
Gordon's 33-minute burst also stands as the quickest Champions League hat-trick by an English player.
The 24-year-old had more to give as his dash into the box resulted in Kochalski tripping him leading to another spot-kick which Gordon slotted home comfortably.
Jafarguliyev pulled one back in the 54th minute via a low shot initially ruled out for offside but confirmed by VAR.
Murphy registered his maiden Champions League goal in the 72nd minute curling a deflected effort beyond Kochalski to cap Newcastle's flawless night.