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Champions League playoffs: Gordon scores four goals in first half as Newcastle routs Qarabag

Champions League playoffs: Gordon scores four goals in first half as Newcastle routs Qarabag | iNFOnews.ca
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League play-off first leg soccer match between Qarabag and Newcastle in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo)

Anthony Gordon scored four goals in the first half as Newcastle routed Qarabag 6-1 in the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday.

Newcastle was 5-0 up by halftime in Azerbaijan and, barring an unlikely collapse in the second leg at home next week, is cruising into the round of 16.

Gordon completed his hat trick in 33 minutes at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in Baku and got a fourth in first-half added time.

Malick Thiaw was also on target for the Premier League team, which had 16 shots in a rampant first half.

Elvin Jafarguliyev pulled one back for Qarabag, which has been one of the surprise stories of this season’s Champions League after qualifying for the playoffs. But Jacob Murphy’s deflected strike completed the rout for Newcastle, which will be the fifth English team in the last 16 if it advances.

Test for Inter

Inter Milan is facing a daunting trip to Bodø/Glimt later on Wednesday.

The tiny Norwegian team produced shock wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to make the playoffs.

Located north of the Arctic Circle — farther north than any team in Champions League history — the reward for its impressive run is a showdown with last year’s runner-up Inter, which leads the Italian league.

Club Bruges hosts Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos faces Bayer Leverkusen.

In Tuesday’s playoffs Paris Saint-Germain rallied from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 and Real Madrid defeat Benfica 1-0.

Galatasaray won 5-2 against Juventus and Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Champions League playoffs: Gordon scores four goals in first half as Newcastle routs Qarabag | iNFOnews.ca
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Champions League play-off first leg soccer match between Qarabag and Newcastle in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo)
Champions League playoffs: Gordon scores four goals in first half as Newcastle routs Qarabag | iNFOnews.ca
Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy celebrates after scoring his side’s sixth goal during the Champions League play-off first leg soccer match between Qarabag and Newcastle in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo)

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The Associated Press

James Robson

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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