They name this the punishment spherical, but for Newcastle it has been extra like a mid-season joyride. Not so for poor Qarabag, and you may interpret ‘poor’ nonetheless you want.
It was onerous to not really feel a flicker of sympathy for them at occasions within the first half, and maybe for Anthony Gordon too. He plundered 4 in final week’s 6-1 win in Baku and might need overtaken Kylian Mbappe because the Champions League’s main scorer with one other 4 had he been unleashed from the beginning. It actually was that simple throughout a gap six minutes that introduced one other two objectives.
Thereafter, Eddie Howe’s facet discovered cruise management, conserving power and stockpiling confidence, no less than till half-time. The pinnacle coach has complained in regards to the calendar not permitting for significant coaching time – properly, right here he had it, in opposition to the mannequins of Azerbaijan.
Sandro Tonali’s late-winter resurgence once more warmed supporters spooked by discuss of a summer time exit. Nick Woltemade, the £69million striker, loved one other midfield tutorial, though Howe admitted he didn’t impression sufficient. Alongside the German, Joelinton sharpened health and added a fantastic objective. His athletic volley got here only a minute after Tonali had initiated and completed a transfer to open the scoring.
There was a Qarabag reply early within the second half when Camilo Duran raced clear and slotted beneath Aaron Ramsdale, drawing well mannered applause from the house crowd, however Sven Botman quickly headed in from a Kieran Trippier nook on the different finish.
There adopted a quick spell the place the hosts misplaced focus, a lot to Howe’s annoyance, and Elvin Jafarguliyev turned within the rebound after Ramsdale had saved Marko Jankovic’s penalty. At the very least Qarabag’s sudden arrival within the tie quickened the tempo of the coaching train throughout the remaining half hour.
Sandro Tonali scored the primary objective for Newcastle of their 3-2 win over Qarabag
Joelinton netted the second on what was a snug second leg for the Magpies
Now for Barcelona or Chelsea within the final 16, the place Newcastle will compete for the primary time of their historical past. If they’re to play on this competitors subsequent season, it would simply be that successful this yr’s version turns into their most viable route. They’re 9 factors off fifth within the Premier League and the sector in entrance of them is crowded.
As Howe stated this week, his workforce appear to search out one thing additional below the Champions League lights. Outcomes assist that concept, however so does the very fact English golf equipment are a lot stronger than the overwhelming majority of what exists on the continent.
Barcelona received 2-1 right here on the opening night time of the group part however Newcastle battered them within the first half hour. There may be an argument to say Barcelona can be the popular opponents in Friday’s draw, given the doubtless bodily edge.
Gordon scored in that defeat in September, however it got here at a time when Newcastle have been struggling for objectives. With the winger as striker of late, they’ve discovered rhythm and perception in entrance of objective. His 10 in Europe are double the tally of Marcus Rashford, who netted each of Barcelona’s objectives within the autumn. Newcastle wouldn’t, and mustn’t, be daunted by the prospect of going through the Spanish champions.
‘There will likely be a optimistic really feel whoever we get,’ stated Howe. ‘I imagine we are able to increase our recreation and compete with anybody. We’ve seen the very best of ourselves in cup video games. The Champions League is a tremendous factor for us. We’ll assault every thing.’
Tonali was the sport’s greatest participant right here. Of the very small variety of potential suitors for the Italian, Barcelona would in all probability be one. However, for now and till the top of the season no less than, he will likely be orchestrating Newcastle’s midfield.
His jinking run within the fourth minute led to his close-range end moments later, making it three objectives from three video games. Within the absence of injured skipper Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali has re-emerged because the workforce’s main man.
Sven Botman headed the third, with Eddie Howe’s males progressing 9-3 on mixture
Anthony Gordon made an impression off the bench and stored up his current momentum
Gordon, too, was electrical when he got here on early within the second half, little doubt motivated by that quest for objectives. He makes no secret of his need to outscore the likes of Mbappe, evidenced by a row with Trippier when he insisted on taking a second penalty to attain his fourth within the first leg.
There was a late scare when Tonali was caught on the shin by a careless Qarabag leg – at the price of a reserving – however inside a minute he was again on his ft and charging the size of the sector to disclaim the guests what would have felt essentially the most unlikely equaliser.
And so the joyride ended with loads of gasoline within the tank and feel-good restored. This was no punishment spherical. If something, it has Newcastle dreaming of the pleasure that might but await.
