Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon kick-started Newcastle United’s Champions League marketing campaign as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Union St. Gilloise.
It has been a troublesome begin to the season for the Magpies, however they responded brilliantly to the heartbreak of their dramatic Premier League loss to Arsenal final Sunday with an excellent away efficiency, claiming their first Champions League victory on the highway since a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in 2003.
Woltemade’s improvised end put them in entrance within the seventeenth minute, earlier than Gordon gave them management with a Forty third-minute penalty.
Union threatened to drag one again, however Gordon’s second spot-kick within the sixty fourth minute ended the sport as a contest, with Harvey Barnes then including late gloss to the scoreline as Newcastle claimed their first win of the league section in fashion having opened with a slender defeat to Barcelona.
After their largest win within the Champions League outdoors of the qualifiers, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica await them subsequent at St James’ Park on October 21.
Newcastle look something however ‘idiots’ for Woltemade signing
Newcastle made a wonderful begin to proceedings and had been rewarded with their first away purpose of the season.
An outstanding right-wing cross from Anthony Elanga, who got here into the facet instead of Jacob Murphy, was solely half-cleared and Sandro Tonali’s effort from the sting of the realm deflected past Kjell Scherpen, with replays exhibiting it was neatly flicked house by Woltemade.
Bayern Munich board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge congratulated Stuttgart for locating an “fool” to pay £69million for Woltemade. Requested about these feedback, Newcastle supervisor Eddie Howe labelled the value tag “irrelevant”, and Woltemade is trying like an more and more astute signing after his third purpose for the membership.
Union responded nicely and Adem Zorgane compelled Nick Pope a diving save with a shot from the sting of the realm, earlier than Joelinton headed narrowly extensive on the different finish.
However Newcastle took full command of the competition shortly earlier than half-time when the spectacular Anthony Elanga minimize in from the appropriate and drew a rash problem from Fedde Leysen, with the referee exhibiting no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Gordon confidently tucked into the bottom-right nook, and Newcastle went near placing the sport to mattress shortly after the second-half restart when Elanga drew a robust save from Scherpen.
Newcastle declare largest Champions League win
Union, although, refused to lie down of their first Champions League house recreation and Anan Khalaili missed a gilt-edged likelihood to degree earlier than Ousseynou Niang and Zorgane compelled Pope into two saves in fast succession.
However the factors had been basically sealed when VAR deemed Leysen had dealt with within the space when trying to defend an exquisite Gordon cross, and the England ahead repeated the feat in changing from 12 yards.
Sofiane Boufal examined Pope from lengthy vary, however Newcastle sealed the win by an historic margin when Gordon began a counter that ended with William Osula exhibiting power and ability to tee up Barnes to fit house on the far publish.