Match report: Newcastle United 3 (9)–(3) 2 Qarabağ FK

Newcastle United progressed into the UEFA Champions League round of 16 as they battered Qarabag over two legs.

By Liam Rafferty

Newcastle opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Sandro Tonali scored from a parried ball following Will Osula’s headed chance.

‘The Magpies’ wasted no time in getting a second and were 2-0 up in less than ten minutes when Joelinton’s volley found the back of the net.

Qarabag pulled a consolation goal back through a fine finish from Camilo Duran in the 50th minute.

If the tie had not already been finished by that point, it certainly was two minutes later when Sven Botman headed home from Kieran Trippier’s corner in the 52nd minute.

‘The Horsemen’ were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute. Marko Jankovic missed from the spot, but Elvin Jafarquliyev scored the rebound.

Newcastle went into the game with a 6-1 lead, which they had earned the previous week in Baku, Azerbaijan.

With the result, Newcastle could draw either Chelsea or Barcelona in Friday’s Champions League draw.

17' – Joelinton proved too strong and powerful for the visitors. He went on a run down the right side of the box, skipped past Kevin Medina and fired on target, but it was an easy save for Mateusz Kochalski.

21' – Kochalski was nearly caught out as a coordinated Newcastle press put him under pressure following a pass back. Osula reacted quickly and poked the ball out for a goal kick. It was a close call.

30' – 'The Horsemen’ threatened to move up a gear as Jafarquliyev fired in a low cross. Ramsdale put it behind with a block.

36' – Nick Woltemade managed to find space cleverly, and Murphy pulled his shot just wide across the face of goal from the right. It should have been 3-0.

41' – There was action at both ends. A Newcastle corner found the head of Botman and Kochalski was forced into a save. The visitors launched a fast counter-attack, which ended with Ramsdale tipping over a powerful strike from Duran.

59' – Newcastle looked determined to avoid complacency, but Abdellah Zoubir forced a fine save from Ramsdale down at his left post after the hosts were caught sloppy in possession.

66' – Harvey Barnes was denied by a good save from Kochalski. Willock raced clear as Newcastle had a three-on-two advantage. Just as he shaped to slow the play and find Barnes, the winger cut inside from the right and bent an effort towards the bottom-left corner, but the visiting keeper tipped it around the post.

71' – Anthony Gordon got in behind after darting away from Badavi Huseynov, forcing Kochalski to sprawl at his feet. Barnes followed up, but the keeper poked the ball away again and did well to avoid conceding a penalty.

76' – There were penalty appeals when Gordon raced down the left and squared for Woltemade, whose shot was blocked. The home fans were convinced Huseynov had handled the ball, but the referee showed no interest, even after a VAR check.