soccer

'Gordon brought back one or two memories of Shearer'

Anthony Gordon had already scored a hat-trick.

But the ruthless Newcastle United forward only had one thought in his mind at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium.

Gordon had just won his side a penalty against Qarabag in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League play-off tie, and he was not about to hand the ball over after Kieran Trippier felt Nick Woltemade should get a chance to take the spot-kick.

It brought back one or two memories of the single-mindedness of Newcastle's greatest goalscorer, Alan Shearer.

In fact, after already netting four goals against Sheffield Wednesday, in 1999, Shearer told striker Paul Robinson where to go after his team-mate asked him if he could take a spot-kick.

So it was rather fitting that this was a night where Gordon overtook the Newcastle legend as the club's all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 10 goals.

Qarabag, in truth, played right into Gordon's hands. The sight of the rapid Gordon playing further forward than Woltemade appeared to catch Qarabag a little cold.

By the time they finally readjusted, and dropped deeper in the second half, the damage had been done, as Match of the Day pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger noted.

"I have to say I was surprised by how high Qarabag defended, and how they kept a high line in the first half when the Newcastle goals were going in," said the former Aston Villa and Germany midfielder.

"I was thinking: 'Are they not watching Newcastle and their recent games?' Why did they allow so much space for Gordon, who was brilliant all evening?"

Gordon has impressed in such a role away from home in recent weeks - opening the scoring at Anfield last month and setting up Jacob Ramsey's winner against Spurs last week.

He gives Eddie Howe's side something different through the middle with his movement and pace, and the Azerbaijan Premier League champions could not cope.

"He's been really good in that position," Howe said. "Looking back to the Liverpool game, where I thought he was excellent, he scores.

"He's shown he wants to play there and then he's got the quality to play there. His pressing today was incredible for us. That gave us the platform to rebuild off of his work.

"Of course, he's taken the four goals and will get the headlines, naturally, but his all-round game was really strong."

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