Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring for Newcastle United against Qarabag in the Champions League on 18 February, 2026
Image caption, Anthony Gordon is only the second player in Champions League history to score four goals in the first half of a game
At a glance
Anthony Gordon scores four goals in first half as dominant Newcastle run riot in first-leg of Champions League last 16 play-off tie
Malick Thiaw nets a header and substitute Jacob Murphy scores with deflected long-range effort as visitors take commanding lead back to St James' Park
Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski makes a series of saves to prevent further embarrassment as Elvin Cafarguliyev pulls one back for the hosts
Anthony Gordon scored four goals as rampant Newcastle United blew Qarabag away to take control of their last 16 Champions League play-off tie.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe had spoken about how the visitors wanted to "turn these moments into history and moments people talk about for a long time", and his dominant side certainly delivered with their biggest ever win in the competition at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Qarabag had previously drawn 2-2 against Chelsea - and defeated Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen - but the beleaguered Azerbaijani champions simply could not live with the pace and potency of Newcastle's attack in a damaging first-leg.
Gordon, in particular, caused the hosts untold problems on a night he overtook Alan Shearer to become Newcastle's all-time top scorer in the Champions League.
It took Gordon just two minutes to open the scoring after the latched on to a through ball from marauding centre-back Dan Burn and finished coolly past goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski into the bottom corner.
Newcastle did not let up from that moment and Kieran Trippier's teasing cross was headed home by the towering Malick Thiaw at the back post just a few minutes later.
No wonder stunned Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov used a break in play to call his players over for some much-needed instructions, but it soon got even worse for the hosts.
Newcastle were awarded the first of two penalties on the night after Harvey Barnes' shot struck the arm of the sliding Matheus Silva as the Qarabag defender attempted to block a shot from inside the box.
Following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), referee Espen Eskas was sent over to his pitchside monitor to take a second look and he duly pointed to the spot.
Although Kochalski guessed the right way, and got a touch to the ball, the Qarabag 'keeper could not keep out Gordon's powerful penalty.
But Gordon was far from finished yet and, remarkably, the forward scored his third from the restart after he pounced on slack play from defender Kevin Medina and rounded Kochalski to make it 4-0.
There was still time for Gordon to grab his fourth from the spot just a couple of minutes before half-time after goalkeeper Kocalski took the England international down inside the box.
Kochalski again guessed correctly, but it was another emphatic penalty from Gordon.
Qarabag, to their credit, rallied after the break and defender Elvin Cafarquliyev pulled one back from a tight angle.
But substitute Jacob Murphy went on to score a deflected effort from distance to restore Newcastle's five-goal advantage before these sides meet in the return fixture at St James' Park next week.
"In the Champions League teams are much more open," he said just a few weeks ago. "They all try and play."
Never was that more apparent than on Wednesday night.
This was a new stage for both sides, who had never reached the knockout stages of the Champions League before.
But the gulf in class was staggering.
Howe showed Qarabag huge respect by naming a strong side, but the Newcastle head coach also knew the hosts would leave gaps.
Gordon, in particular, exploited them as he led the line.
The forward was so hungry that, even after scoring his hat-trick, he grabbed the ball as designated penalty taker to take the spot-kick for his fourth rather than giving it to Nick Woltemade.
Kieran Trippier, the stand-in captain, still appeared to be a little annoyed about that as the pair exchanged words after trudging off the field at half-time.
In truth, Gordon and his team-mates could have scored even more on a night Qarabag goalkeeper Kochalski still, somehow, emerged with credit after making some fine saves.
Newcastle had 22 shots, 14 efforts on target and 39 touches inside the opposition box, but the visitors ultimately had to settle for just the six goals.
With the tie as good as over, Howe will now have the luxury of being able to rotate for the second-leg at St James'.
Though you suspect Gordon will still be desperate to add to the ten goals he has scored in the competition this season.
Newcastle travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Saturday, 21 February (20:00 GMT) before welcoming Qarabag to St James' Park for the second-leg on Tuesday, 24 February (20:00 GMT).
Qarabag play Neftci on Saturday, 21 February (15:00 GMT) before making the long journey to Tyneside a few days later.
Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.