Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United: Champions League playoff – live

Newcastle United beat Qarabag 6-1 in the Champions League playoff first leg in Baku. The visitors killed the tie in the first half, dominating the match despite Qarabag’s consolation goal. Qarabag were slightly better in the second half but their terrible defending early on left them no chance.

Anthony Gordon was the player of the match. He scored four times in the first half — opening on 3 minutes, converting a penalty at 32, netting again at 34 (his hat-trick) and slotting another penalty at 45+1 — as Newcastle led 5-0 at half-time. Malick Thiaw had added the other early goal from a Kieran Trippier cross at eight minutes.

Qarabag reduced the deficit when Elvin Cafarquliyev scored on 55 minutes, but Jacob Murphy curled home on 71 minutes to make it 6-1 after coming on as a substitute. Newcastle made three changes in the 67th minute, bringing on William Osula, Jacob Murphy and Jacob Ramsey for Gordon, Elanga and Willock.

newcastle united, qarabag, champions league, baku, anthony gordon, hat-trick, kieran trippier, malick thiaw, jacob murphy, penalty