Anthony Gordon netted a first-half hat-trick to justify his No.9 role as Newcastle United thrashed Qarabag in the Champions League.
Four from Gordon, one from Malick Thiaw and a Jacob Murphy raker did the damage as 2,000 topless Geordies toasted a 5,000-mile-round trip in style. A non-event of a return fixture awaits next week after Newcastle dismantled the Azerbaijani champions with ease.
Harvey Barnes tested Mateusz Kochalski’s gloves inside the opening minute with a low-drilled effort straight into his gloves. The breakthrough came moments later, with Dan Burn evoking his inner No.10 to charge forward and slot in Anthony Gordon, who made no mistake to pick out the bottom corner.
The pressure continued on seven minutes when Nick Woltemade teed up Barnes. However, he once again hit his effort at the goalkeeper - but the resulting corner doubled Newcastle’s advantage.
A clever set piece saw Kieran Trippier’s low cross find Sandro Tonali, courtesy of Lewis Hall’s dummy. When Trippier pinged a cross back into the danger area, Malick Thiaw was at the back post to head home.
The pressure continued - with Gordon fluffing a one vs one before Barnes whistled another opportunity past the post from distance. With just 16 minutes on the clock, the 2,000-strong away end must have questioned whether they had bought tickets to watch a cricket match…
It should have been 3-0 after 25 minutes as a clever Nick Woltemade pass found Sandro Tonali. The Italian fizzed a ball into Gordon, who caressed a neat touch through to Barnes. The winger will be wondering how he was not yet on the scoresheet as he blasted his third shot of the game at Kochalski.
Gordon should have enjoyed his first-half hat-trick earlier when Joe Willock lifted a pass towards Barnes to the left of the area. But when he found Gordon, another effort was fired straight at the Qarabag goalkeeper.
The England international eventually made it 3-0 from the spot as Barnes’ strike hit Chris Kouakou on the arm. Gordon rifled the ensuing penalty into the top corner - as “Geordie boys, taking the p—” echoed around the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Qarabag’s misery compounded just seconds after the restart as Woltemade awkwardly punted the ball forward. A howler from Kevin Medina caused a mix-up with the goalie as Gordon rounded Kochalski to claim his first-half hat-trick.
If the hosts thought Newcastle would relax before half-time, they thought wrong. Kochalski brought down Gordon as a second penalty was awarded.
He once again buried home from 12 yards and, had this been a boxing match, the referee would have signalled for a TKO finish. This tie was over as the travelling Geordies began to bask in the Azerbaijani night sky bare-chested.
Qarabag gave the home crowd a consolation nine minutes into the second half when Elvin Cafarquliyev beat Nick Pope at his near post. On a night with little action in the Newcastle half, the keeper will be disappointed to lose his clean sheet cheaply.
In truth, that was the wake-up call the Magpies deserved for starting the second half in first gear. Qarabag almost had a second on the hour mark as Joni Montiel tried his luck from distance.
Newcastle soon sprang to life as Woltemade - for the first time all evening - found himself in the area. Tonali’s cross hit the 6ft 6in forward who spooned his header over.
Belief appeared to have grown in the Qarabag ranks, with Abdellah Zoubir working the ball to Pedro Bicalho. His effort - via a deflection - whistled past Pope’s post.
Any hope of making the second leg a nail-biter was squashed with 18 minutes remaining once Jacob Murphy, not long introduced, scored from 25 yards with the help of a Cafarquliyev touch.
If Qarabag started the first half the way they came out flying in the second, this could have been a contest. As it turned out, Newcastle coasted to a routine Champions League victory and a night off at St James' Park next week.
Expect bars around Baku - with pints as cheap as £1 - to be drunk dry tonight. A crumb of comfort for the locals, who were never a genuine match for Eddie Howe’s side.
NewcastleWorld's Champions League coverage is proudly sponsored by Howdens Blyth.
. NewcastleWorld's Champions League coverage is proudly sponsored by Howdens Blyth.
NewcastleWorld's Champions League coverage is proudly sponsored by Howdens Blyth. | NewcastleWorld
Beaten at his near post for the Qarabag consolation. Will be disappointed to have lost his clean sheet cheaply.
1. Nick Pope - 6
Beaten at his near post for the Qarabag consolation. Will be disappointed to have lost his clean sheet cheaply. | Getty Images
Experienced personified. Trippier has played on the biggest stages of all and was never going to overawed by the occasion. Set up the second goal and executed his crosses well.
2. Kieran Trippier - 7
Experienced personified. Trippier has played on the biggest stages of all and was never going to overawed by the occasion. Set up the second goal and executed his crosses well. | Getty Images
Thiaw is becoming a real goal threat in the air. Headed home Newcastle’s second and, like Burn, was rarely tested in defence.
3. Malick Thiaw - 7.5
Thiaw is becoming a real goal threat in the air. Headed home Newcastle’s second and, like Burn, was rarely tested in defence. | AFP via Getty Images
Evoked his inner No.10 to create the opening goal. Should have scored shortly before half-time. An easy night’s work for the Blyth native.
4. Dan Burn - 7.5
Evoked his inner No.10 to create the opening goal. Should have scored shortly before half-time. An easy night’s work for the Blyth native. | AFP via Getty Images