Anthony Gordon had already scored a hat-trick.
However the ruthless Newcastle United ahead solely had one thought in his thoughts on the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Gordon had simply gained his aspect a penalty towards Qarabag within the , and he was not about at hand the ball over after Kieran Trippier felt Nick Woltemade ought to get an opportunity to take the spot-kick.
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It introduced again one or two recollections of the single-mindedness of Newcastle’s biggest ever goalscorer, Alan Shearer.
The truth is, after already netting 4 targets towards Sheffield Wednesday, in 1999, Shearer informed striker Paul Robinson the place to go after his team-mate requested him if he may take a spot-kick.
So it was reasonably becoming that this was an evening the place Gordon overtook the Newcastle legend because the membership’s all-time prime scorer within the Champions League with 10 targets.
“We ought to be in it collectively,” Gordon informed TNT Sports activities after netting 4 targets in his aspect’s 6-1 victory.
“However I am an attacker. I am the penalty taker, so I wish to rating as many targets as I probably can.”
Anthony Gordon is simply the second Englishman to achieve double figures for targets in a single Champions League marketing campaign after Harry Kane [Getty Images]
‘His urgent right this moment was unbelievable for us’
Qarabag, in reality, performed proper into Gordon’s arms.
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This aspect had beforehand drawn towards Chelsea and defeated Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen.
However the sight of the speedy Gordon enjoying additional ahead than Woltemade appeared to catch Qarabag a bit of chilly.
By the point they lastly readjusted, and dropped deeper within the second half, the injury had been accomplished, as Match of the Day pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger famous.
“I’ve to say I used to be shocked by how excessive Qarabag defended, and the way they stored a excessive line within the first half when the Newcastle targets have been stepping into,” he mentioned.
“I used to be pondering, ‘are they not watching Newcastle and their current video games?’ As a result of why did they permit a lot house for Gordon, who was sensible all night?”
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Gordon has impressed in such a job away from residence in current weeks – opening the scoring at Anfield final month and organising Jacob Ramsey’s winner towards Spurs final week.
He provides Eddie Howe’s aspect one thing completely different via the center together with his motion and tempo, and the Azerbaijan Premier League champions couldn’t cope.
“I believe he is been actually good in that place,” Howe mentioned. “Wanting again to the Liverpool sport, the place I believed he was glorious, he scores.
“He is proven he desires to play there after which he is acquired the standard to play there. His urgent right this moment was unbelievable for us. That gave us the platform to rebuild off of his work.
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“After all he is taken the 4 targets and can get the headlines, naturally, however his all-round sport was actually robust.”
Gordon seems to be ‘gutted’ to return off
Gordon’s first aim set the tone for Newcastle.
It solely took the speedy ahead two minutes to open the scoring after he beat the offside lure to latch on to Dan Burn’s via ball earlier than coolly selecting out the underside nook.
Having scored his second from the spot, to make it 3-0, Gordon’s pace brought on Qarabag issues as soon as once more from the restart simply seconds later when he pounced on some slack play from defender Kevin Medina and rounded Mateusz Kochalski to attain his hat-trick.
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On an evening Gordon spurned one or two alternatives from open play, there was no likelihood of him letting go of the ball when he gained his aspect one other spot-kick earlier than the break.
Gordon stepped up and dispatched a second highly effective penalty previous goalkeeper Kochalski.
It was an evening he smashed numerous information, together with turning into the one Englishman to attain three or extra targets in a knockout stage sport within the Champions League.
No marvel Gordon didn’t wish to come off halfway via the second half, because the watching Pat Nevin noticed.
“He’s really gutted,” he mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Reside. “Any striker would really feel precisely the identical. it is the suitable factor.
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“You do not wish to get injured. you must relaxation, there’s huge video games arising. However you additionally know there’s targets. He is taken it properly, although.”
‘We’ve got to maintain it going’
Gordon left the sector to the sound of his identify being chanted by these delirious Newcastle supporters within the away finish.
The travelling assist launched into a gruelling 2,500-mile journey to be there – the longest any English fan base had ever travelled within the Champions League.
You watched it was price it as they repeatedly sang about not desirous to go residence within the closing levels.
What a distinction 10 days make.
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A crestfallen Howe admitted he was not doing his job “properly sufficient” after his aspect have been booed off following a bruising defeat towards Brentford at St James’ Park earlier this month.
It led to a short interval of soul looking out and one or two residence truths behind the scenes, and Newcastle have responded.
A aspect who as soon as suffered with journey illness have now defeated Qarabag, Aston Villa and Spurs on the highway in little greater than every week.
“I am so happy with everybody as a result of soccer is a extremely emotional place typically and it is very fickle,” Gordon added.
“Folks get so down and so up on you relying in your type. To undergo what we went via to the place we’re in now’s actually necessary and exhibits the character we now have.
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“Soccer does change quick so we now have to maintain it going, preserve the momentum, as a result of it may go the opposite method simply as quick.”
