Union SG 0-4 Newcastle: Report, result and goals as Magpies claim first league phase win

Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon kick-started Newcastle United’s Champions League campaign as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Union St. Gilloise.

It has been a difficult start to the season for the Magpies, but they responded brilliantly to the heartbreak of their dramatic Premier League loss to Arsenal last Sunday with a superb away performance, claiming their first Champions League victory on the road since a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in 2003.

Woltemade’s improvised finish put them in front in the 17th minute, before Gordon gave them control with a 43rd-minute penalty.

Union threatened to pull one back, but Gordon’s second spot-kick in the 64th minute ended the game as a contest, with Harvey Barnes then adding late gloss to the scoreline as Newcastle claimed their first win of the league phase in style having opened with a narrow defeat to Barcelona.

After their largest win in the Champions League outside of the qualifiers, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica await them next at St James’ Park on October 21.

Newcastle look anything but ‘idiots’ for Woltemade signing

Newcastle made an excellent start to proceedings and were rewarded with their first away goal of the season.

A superb right-wing cross from Anthony Elanga, who came into the side in place of Jacob Murphy, was only half-cleared and Sandro Tonali’s effort from the edge of the area deflected beyond Kjell Scherpen, with replays showing it was smartly flicked home by Woltemade.

Bayern Munich board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge congratulated Stuttgart for finding an “idiot” to pay £69million for Woltemade. Asked about those comments, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe labelled the price tag “irrelevant”, and Woltemade is looking like an increasingly astute signing after his third goal for the club.

Union responded well and Adem Zorgane forced Nick Pope a diving save with a shot from the edge of the area, before Joelinton headed narrowly wide at the other end.

But Newcastle took complete command of the contest shortly before half-time when the impressive Anthony Elanga cut in from the right and drew a rash challenge from Fedde Leysen, with the referee showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Gordon confidently tucked into the bottom-right corner, and Newcastle went close to putting the game to bed shortly after the second-half restart when Elanga drew a strong save from Scherpen.

Newcastle claim biggest Champions League win

Union, though, refused to lie down in their first Champions League home game and Anan Khalaili missed a gilt-edged chance to level before Ousseynou Niang and Zorgane forced Pope into two saves in quick succession.

But the points were essentially sealed when VAR deemed Leysen had handled in the area when attempting to defend a wonderful Gordon cross, and the England forward repeated the feat in converting from 12 yards.

Sofiane Boufal tested Pope from long range, but Newcastle sealed the win by an historic margin when Gordon started a counter that ended with William Osula showing strength and skill to tee up Barnes to slot home at the far post.