Four-goal haul for Anthony Gordon as Newcastle hit Qarabag for six in Baku | OneFootball

Newcastle United all but booked their place in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday night after dismantling Qarabag 6-1 in Baku to take a commanding grip on their knockout play-off tie.

Eddie Howe’s side arrived in Azerbaijan knowing they needed to lay down a marker, and they produced one of the most ruthless European performances in the club’s modern history, leaving the second leg at St James’ Park looking like a formality.

Anthony Gordon was the headline act, scoring four times and tormenting Qarabag’s back line from the first whistle in Newcastle’s biggest win in the competition.

The opener came inside two minutes as Gordon sprinted on to Dan Burn’s through ball and finished calmly past Mateusz Kochalski.

Newcastle doubled their advantage soon after, with Malick Thiaw powering in a header from Kieran Trippier’s inviting delivery to leave the hosts stunned.

Qarabag were already struggling to cope with Newcastle’s speed and direct running, and the night spiralled further when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Matheus Silva handled Harvey Barnes’ effort in the area.

Gordon struck the spot kick with power, and although Kochalski got a hand to it, the ball still found the net.

The tie was then blown apart in the space of a minute.

Gordon pounced on a loose touch from defender Kevin Medina, rounded the goalkeeper and rolled home for 4-0 to complete a remarkable hat-trick.

Newcastle were not finished, and Gordon grabbed his fourth before half-time after being brought down by Kochalski, converting another penalty with the same ruthless confidence.

The Magpies eased off after the interval, and Qarabag at least gave their supporters something to cheer when Elvin Cafarquliyev pulled one back from a tight angle.

For a brief spell, the home side played with more freedom, and they tested Nick Pope with a fierce Joni Montiel effort as they tried to build momentum.

However, any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished when substitute Jacob Murphy restored Newcastle’s five-goal cushion with a deflected strike from distance.

Newcastle managed the closing stages comfortably, with the gulf in quality and intensity obvious throughout as the visitors repeatedly found space between Qarabag’s midfield and defence.

The result leaves Howe’s side needing only to avoid an extraordinary collapse in the return leg, and it also continues a sharp upturn in form at a crucial point of the season.

Qarabag, who had beaten Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league phase and held Chelsea to a draw in Baku, were unable to live with Newcastle once the game became stretched.

Their Champions League adventure now appears over, but Newcastle will travel back to England believing a rare place in the last 16 is now within touching distance.