Qarabag vs Newcastle live: Anthony Gordon completes first half hat-trick as hosts face rout
Can Newcastle put one foot into the Champions League last 16?
Newcastle will hope not to return from their 5,000-mile round trip to Baku empty-handed as they take on Qarabag in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie.
The Magpies just missed out on the top eight after drawing with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on the final league phase matchday, with the gutsy result not enough to spare them of the ever-perilous play-offs.
And while the Premier League season is going anything but to plan for Eddie Howe, the Newcastle boss will look to build on progression in the FA Cup with another triumph in Europe.
Travel aside, Newcastle have been dealt a rather favourable draw and have go into this clash as the strong favourites, with Qarabag’s last European outing seeing them thrashed 6-0 by Liverpool.
However, the Azerbaijani outfit have proved a formidable foe on home soil this term, beating Eintracht Frankfurt and holding Chelsea to a draw during the league phase. Could they cause another upset and put pressure on the return leg on Tyneside?
Follow all the action from Newcastle’s clash with Qarabag in our live blog below:
Half-time! Qarabag 0-5 Newcastle
45+3 mins: Qarabag have been woeful. Genuinely awful. Truly dreadful.
They haven’t been able to defend and Newcastle have taken them apart.
The tie is over inside of 45 minutes.
Newcastle have had 18 attempts already. 13 of them have been on target showing how well Mateusz Kochalski has played.
He’s made eight stops!
The teams head down the tunnel for the half-time break.
GOAL! Qarabag 0-5 Newcastle (Anthony Gordon, 45+1)
A fourth for Gordon!
He sends the penalty to the opposite side this time but the result is the same.
Gordon has four goals before half-time.
Qarabag 0-4 Newcastle
45 mins: Penalty to Newcastle!
A poor back pass sees Gordon nip in behind and get to the ball.
The goalkeeper comes out to try and beat him to it but arrives late and cleans out the man instead.
Gordon has the chance to score his fourth of the night.
Qarabag 0-4 Newcastle
42 mins: Close!
A free kick is swung into the box by Anthony Elanga and he picks out Dan Burn.
Burn heads the ball towards goal but sends the effort straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.
Qarabag 0-4 Newcastle
39 mins: This is like a training ground match for Newcastle.
There’s no pressure on the at all and this is supposed to be the Champions League.
It’s a perfect draw for a play-off tie and a huge confidence booster for Newcastle.
Qarabag 0-4 Newcastle
36 mins: Qarabag lost 6-0 to Liverpool in their last match against an English team.
They may lose by a larger margin tonight.
Eddie Howe won’t be satisfied until the full-time whistle.
Four goals is enough already to send Newcastle into the last-16 but the greater their advantage the more options will be available to Howe next week.
GOAL! Qarabag 0-4 Newcastle (Anthony Gordon, 33')
It’s a first half hat-trick for Anthony Gordon!
Kevin Medina is caught in possession after the restart and Gordon dribbles into the box.
He takes it past the goalkeeper and slots it home with ease.
GOAL! Qarabag 0-3 Newcastle (Anthony Gordon, 32')
No problems.
A rocket from Anthony Gordon and Newcastle now have three!
Qarabag 0-2 Newcastle
30 mins: Penalty to Newcastle!
There’s a handball that has blocked Barnes’ shot. It’s very harsh on Qarabag.
The defender leaps in front of the shot and puts out his head to brace himself from hitting the floor.
The ball strikes his hand but Silva, the defender, isn’t even looking at the shot.
It’s a harsh one indeed.
Qarabag 0-2 Newcastle
29 mins: Close!
A short corner is rolled into the box to Barnes who shoots but has his effort blocked.
The ball comes to Willock for a similar effort but again the hosts throw bodies in front of the ball.
Newcastle want a penalty after the initial shot and the referee has been called over to the monitor...
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