SHEARER’S RECORD BROKEN: HOW ANTHONY GORDON BECAME NEWCASTLE’S ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORING LEADER
Anthony Gordon makes history: Discover how his four goals vs Qarabag broke Alan Shearer’s record in Newcastle's 6-1 victory.
Anthony Gordon ran riot in Baku, firing four goals as Newcastle United steamrolled Qarabag and all but sealed their Champions League last-16 play-off.
Eddie Howe had talked about turning nights like this into club history, and his team really delivered. This was Newcastle’s biggest-ever European win, and they did it on Qarabag’s turf at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium.
Now, Qarabag aren’t pushovers. They’ve drawn with Chelsea, beaten Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt, and even seen off Copenhagen. But they looked completely outmatched from the start. Newcastle just tore into them. Gordon, especially, was unstoppable. He didn’t just give Qarabag headaches; he became Newcastle’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League, overtaking Alan Shearer in the process.
It took him two minutes. Dan Burn charged forward from the back, slipped Gordon through, and Gordon finished coolly into the bottom corner. Newcastle smelled blood. Kieran Trippier swung in a dangerous cross, and Malick Thiaw rose highest to nod in the second. Qarabag’s manager, Gurban Gurbanov, tried to regroup his shell-shocked players, but Newcastle just kept coming.
A few minutes later, Harvey Barnes fired at goal, and Matheus Silva blocked it with his arm. VAR told the referee to check the replay, and Newcastle got a penalty. Gordon stepped up. Kochalski, the Qarabag keeper, guessed right and got a hand to it, but Gordon’s shot was too strong.
And Gordon wasn’t done. Right after the restart, Qarabag defender Kevin Medina made a mess of it, Gordon pounced, rounded Kochalski, and tucked in his third. Then, just before halftime, Kochalski brought Gordon down in the box. Another penalty. Gordon took it himself; no chance for Kochalski this time either. Four goals, and it wasn’t even the break yet.
Qarabag did manage to pull one back after halftime. Elvin Cafarquliyev squeezed one in from a tight angle, but any hope didn’t last. Jacob Murphy came off the bench and scored a deflected long-range goal to restore Newcastle’s five-goal cushion.
Gordon had said a few weeks ago that Champions League teams “are much more open; they all try and play.” He couldn’t have been more right. This was new territory for both clubs, their first-ever knockout tie in the Champions League, but Newcastle looked like they belonged. The gap in quality was massive.
Howe picked a strong lineup. He respected Qarabag, but he also knew they’d leave space, and Gordon made the most of it. Even after his hat trick, he insisted on taking the second penalty instead of handing it over to Nick Woltemade. Trippier, the stand-in captain, didn’t look too happy about that when they left the pitch, but Gordon’s hunger is part of what makes him so dangerous.
Honestly, Newcastle could’ve scored even more. Kochalski actually made some great saves, but Newcastle had 22 shots, 14 on target, and 39 touches in Qarabag’s box. In the end, they “settled” for six goals.
With the tie pretty much wrapped up, Howe can rest players for the return leg at St. James’ Park. But you just know Gordon will be itching to add to his ten Champions League goals this season.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
