Gordon scores four as Newcastle rout Qarabag 6-1

Newcastle all-but secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals in a dominant 6-1 win over Qarabag in the play-off round first leg in Baku. The Magpies ran riot from the start and might feel they should have won by an even bigger margin.

Gordon opened the scoring inside three minutes, running onto Dan Burn's through-ball and slotting low. Malick Thiaw then climbed highest to head in Kieran Trippier's searching cross for 2-0. Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski made several saves, but a handball on a Harvey Barnes effort led to a Gordon penalty for 3-0, and he completed a hat-trick shortly after before a second spot-kick — awarded after he was fouled by Kochalski — made it four, taking his Champions League tally for the season to 10.

Qarabag pulled one back early in the second half when Elvin Jafarguliyev's angled drive beat Nick Pope, but substitute Jacob Murphy ended any hope of a comeback when his 20-yard shot deflected in.

Azerbaijan, Baku

anthony gordon, newcastle, qarabag, champions league, dan burn, kieran trippier, harvey barnes, mateusz kochalski, nick pope, jacob murphy