Newcastle United eased into the Champions League last 16 with a 3–2 win over Qarabag FK on Tuesday, sealing a commanding 9–3 aggregate triumph over the Azerbaijani champions.
The Magpies join a six-strong English contingent in the knockout stages, alongside Arsenal F.C., Liverpool F.C., Chelsea F.C., Manchester City F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C..
Any lingering doubt in a tie that required a 5,000-mile (8,000-kilometre) round trip had long since evaporated after Newcastle’s ruthless first-leg display. They stormed into a 5–0 half-time lead en route to a 6–1 demolition, effectively ending the contest before the return leg began.
With the job already done, manager Eddie Howe rotated heavily, leaving first-leg four-goal hero Anthony Gordon among those on the bench.
Even so, Newcastle struck early once again, extending their aggregate advantage with two goals in six minutes. Sandro Tonali converted the rebound after Dan Burn’s effort was saved, before Joelinton calmly finished Harvey Barnes’ cross.
Qarabag, who had claimed notable scalps against S.L. Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league phase to reach the play-off round, restored some pride after the break.
Camilo Duran outpaced Burn to pull one back, and the Newcastle defender was later penalised for handball. Aaron Ramsdale saved Marko Jankovic’s penalty, but Elvin Jafarguliyev reacted quickest to score the rebound.
In between those strikes, Sven Botman powered home a header from a corner to maintain Newcastle’s control.
The defeat capped a difficult European campaign for Qarabag, whose tally of 30 goals conceded set a new single-season record in the Champions League.
AFP
