By Emmanuel Olagunju
Newcastle United delivered a ruthless performance , with a commanding 6–1 demolition of Qarabag, producing one of the most emphatic away victories in the UEFA Champions League history.
The English side effectively decided the contest before the break, racing into a five-goal halftime lead and leaving the Azerbaijani champions stunned. Anthony Gordon was the hero of the day, scoring four goals in the first half.
Gordon opened the scoring inside three minutes, struck again on 33 minutes, converted from the penalty spot just before halftime, and added another to complete a devastating first-half hat-trick-plus-one. That extraordinary burst places him second on the all-time list of players to score four goals in a single UEFA Champions League half, behind only Luiz Adriano, who scored five for Shakhtar Donetsk in 2014.
In the process, Gordon also wrote himself into club history. His goals make him the all-time top scorer for Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League, underlining his growing stature as a decisive force on the European stage.
Newcastle’s dominance was total. They controlled possession, registered 22 shots, and hit the target 14 times, repeatedly slicing through Qarabag’s defensive lines. Goals from Jacob Murphy and additional attacking contributions capped a performance defined by pace, precision, and relentless pressure.
Qarabag managed a consolation goal shortly after the interval, but it did little to alter the narrative of a night that belonged entirely to the visitors.
This was not just a win, it was a declaration. Newcastle announced themselves as serious contenders, while Anthony Gordon delivered a historic performance that will be remembered long after this Champions League campaign has ended.
