ANTHONY GORDON blitzed past Alan Shearer’s Champions League goalscoring record for Newcastle as he netted FOUR in one half against Qarabag.
The winger, 24, converted two penalties on his way to matching and then streaking ahead of Shearer in the history books.
Anthony Gordon scored his seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth Champions League goal for Newcastle all in one half to surpass Alan Shearer’s club recordCredit: AFP
The Toon record scorer was still one ahead of Gordon at the start of the nightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Newcastle went into the break 5-0 up thanks to some brilliant attacking play and shambolic defending from their opponents.
Gordon, who started the night on six UCL goals, one away from Shearer’s seven was up to 10 just 45 minutes later.
He scored the club’s quickest ever Champions League goal, getting off the mark 122 seconds in.
Malick Thiaw made it 2-0 shortly after, heading home from a corner routine.
Gordon then took over, scoring his first penalty before rounding off a hattrick on 34 minutes, barely moments after converting from the spot.
The England forward put in another from 12 yards – to the annoyance of captain Kieran Trippier – in stoppage time at the end of the half.
Gordon’s Champions League goals have all come this season after he failed to make an impact in their 2023-24 campaign back in the big time.
His record reads as 10 for the Champions League this year in 8.5 games (604 minutes).
The Toon went into the break 5-0 upCredit: AFP
He and Harvey Barnes had 11 shots between them as Eddie Howe’s side dominatedCredit: Getty
Gordon also has two Champions League assists this term but didn’t contribute at all in 23-24.
The former Everton man scored in each of the first three group phase games (home to Barcelona, twice away at Union Saint-Gilloise, and at St James’ Park against Benfica) this time round.
Gordon then scored in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen and at home to PSV Eindhoven to help produce a much stronger European performance by the Toon.
Domestically, he only has three in the Premier League and one other in the FA Cup this season.
Gordon’s hat-trick is the fastest by an English player in the competition in history from the start of matches, breaking another record (36 minutes) held by Shearer.
It is the quickest hat-trick by an English player in the competition
He was clinical in Baku
The Prem’s leading marksman played 10 UCL games for Newcastle, all in the group stage, as well as four more qualifiers.
That puts Gordon ahead of him, breaking another record.
Shearer only scored in three of those matches but one was the aforementioned treble of his own at Leverkusen as well as two more away at Inter Milan a few weeks later.
Wayne Rooney‘s 54 minute effort on debut against Fenerbahce at Old Trafford is in the top five.
Qarabag had managed wins over Benfica and Copenhagen in the league phase as well as a draw to Chelsea in Baku.
They beat Eintracht Frankfurt to qualify for the playoffs but found themselves truly embarrassed here.
Newcastle managed 16 shots (11 on target) in the first half, not conceding a single effort against Nick Pope‘s goal.
Gordon took six of those with Harvey Barnes having five without getting on the scoresheet.
Like much of this season, it is a different Gordon and a different Newcastle in Europe.
Gordon punished woeful Qarabag
And Newcastle didn’t let up as a team