Newcastle United all but confirm Champions League last 16 place with huge win over Qarabağ
The Magpies were five goals to the good by half time in Baku, and added a sixth in the second period to win 1-6.
When a team and their supporters travel around 2,500 miles for an away match, they would certainly hope for a good outcome, one that justifies such a lengthy trip. That was the exact mindset Newcastle United had going to Baku to face Qarabağ in the Champions League play-off knockout round.
Newcastle were making the longest ever trip recorded by a Premier League side for a knockout Champions League tie. Earlier in the season, such a fixture may have been dreaded by the Magpies, given that their away form was dire. However, a win away at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and then progression in the FA Cup away at Aston Villa in the last seven days has changed the mindset.
Both victories showcased much improved Newcastle performances. They looked confident and threatening on both occasions, which they certainly had not done in enough away matches during this campaign.
Therefore, the trip to face Qarabağ for Newcastle United arrived as a game to be enjoyed; a game to be won. In the end, it was certainly both of those. It was an evening on the Caspian Sea that will be fondly remembered by Newcastle.
The Magpies were strong favourites but the first 45 minutes highlighted that there was a bigger gulf between the sides than had been expected. Eddie Howe’s side had attack after attack after attack. They looked as if they could score from each of them, such was their potency and dominance.
The visitors’ press was executed perfectly and the pace up front of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga left the Azerbaijani champions in a mess. They simply could not deal with the intensity of Newcastle, who tore them wide open so many times.
The first goal came just a few minutes in, when Dan Burn skilfully found Gordon making a darting run, before Gordon stroked the ball home. Malick Thiaw headed home the second from a Kieran Trippier cross, and by that point the match was only going one way. More chances followed for Newcastle, and the tie could have been over only 30 minutes into the 180 minutes of the two-legged tie. It was not thanks to the heroics of Qarabağ goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski.
If it had not been for Anthony Gordon going on to score three more goals, Kochalski may well have been the outstanding choice for man of the match, such was the number of superb saves he made. He was caught on camera asking his defence to wake up, and who could blame him? Those playing in front of him were so incredibly all over the place that for a Champions League knockout match, it was slightly embarrassing.
Gordon scored his second from the penalty spot, before completing his hattrick one minute later, stealing the ball from the Qarabağ defence and then rounding the keeper to slot home. On the stroke of half time, Newcastle had five, and Gordon four, as another penalty was dispatched into the net. There was a slight disagreement between Gordon and Trippier over who should take that second penalty, but the two made up by full time.
Naturally, after such a disaster of a first half for the hosts, they made changes for the second and employed a back five in defence which did stem the flow of Newcastle attacks. It even gave them the confidence to go on the offensive, and ultimately score a consolation goal thanks to a strike from Elvin Cafarguliyev.
His strike from a tight angle in the box looked to be offside, but the semi-automated offside technology gave the goal. It was frustrating for Newcastle, who would have much preferred a clean sheet, with the Magpies’ keeper Nick Pope not covering himself in glory as Cafarguliyev’s shot flew past him.
Jacob Murphy quickly restored Newcastle’s five-goal advantage with a deflected effort from outside the box which flew into the net, and the travelling Geordies in Baku were celebrating once again.
The night was rounded off by Joelinton making his return from injury, and young forward Sean Neave making his competitive debut for Newcastle. Neave almost added a seventh late on, but the cross headed for him deflected just out of his path. He may get a further opportunity next week though, as the two sides meet again in the North East for what is now a slightly devalued second leg.