Newcastle United ahead Anthony Gordon scored twice from the spot in a 4-0 win at Union Saint-Gilloise as Eddie Howe’s aspect recorded their first victory on this season’s Champions League.
The England worldwide linked up properly in assault with Nick Woltemade and the recalled Anthony Elanga, who additionally impressed in Brussels, having a hand in two of Newcastle’s objectives as his electrical tempo prompted the house defence all types of issues.
The Swede’s run down the proper flank and centre was solely headed out to the unmarked Sandro Tonali on the sting of the realm and his low strike was cleverly redirected into the online by the alert Woltemade to present the Magpies a deserved Seventeenth-minute lead.
And within the course of, Newcastle’s file signing grew to become the primary participant to attain on each his first Premier League and Champions League begins for the Magpies, whereas additionally taking his tally to a few objectives for his new aspect.
It was from one other penetrating Elanga dribble down the proper that the guests doubled their benefit simply earlier than half-time when Fedde Leysen chopped down the winger, with Gordon – taking up penalty duties from the now departed Alexander Isak – retaining his cool from the spot to place Newcastle in management heading into the second interval.
Gordon’s inviting centre then pressured the hapless Leysen to concede one other spot-kick, which the ahead duly transformed to permit his supervisor to make a raft of modifications halfway by way of the second half with Nottingham Forest at house on Sunday little question on his thoughts.
Nick Woltemade prompted issues up entrance for the Magpies
And there was nonetheless time for a fourth after an attention-grabbing counter-attack that began with that man Gordon inside his personal half, earlier than, within the blink of a watch, Harvey Barnes swept house on the different finish for his first aim since April as Newcastle registered their biggest-ever win within the competitors [excluding qualifiers].
Howe assured Woltemade will preserve getting higher
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe talking about Nick Woltemade at his post-match press convention:
“His potential is high. It is an exciting start for him and he’s done really really well, and more importantly he is willing, wants to do the work and wants to improve.
“It’s tough to place a share on what he’s proper now however there may be extra to come back bodily and tactically as we undergo the journey along with him.
“We will be doing a lot of physical work with him to get him robust enough for the Premier League week in, week out.”
On the win: “There are things we can improve but it was a big step in the right direction, an important stage as well in the Champions League because we have to start well.
“These competitions are so excessive and the calls for are so large on us that if we’re gradual starters, we might depart ourselves an excessive amount of to do, so I actually depart right here in lots more healthy, optimistic way of thinking and I am wanting ahead to the subsequent recreation.”
Post-match facts: Historic night for Newcastle
- Newcastle have registered their biggest-ever Champions League win, while it was their biggest away win in major European competition since beating Sochaux 4-0 in the UEFA Cup in November 2004.
- Union Saint-Gilloise had 17 shots without scoring tonight. Only against Bodo/Glimt in October 2024 (21) in the UEFA Europa League have they had more without finding the net since 2022/23 in major European competition.
- Nick Woltemade became the first Newcastle player to score on both his first Premier League start and first Champions League start for the club.
- Anthony Gordon scored two penalties tonight, becoming the third Englishman to do so in a Champions League match, along with Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.
- Harvey Barnes netted his first-ever Champions League goal, while he is also the first substitute to score in the Champions League for Newcastle.
