Last 16 Here We Come
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Two goals in the first six minutes from Tonali and Joelinton put this tie firmly to bed.
The rest of the game threatened to put a sell out crowd to sleep awoken only by two alarm bells when Qarabag rang in two goals.
The Horsemen ran a good race
Many teams would have collapsed after going 8-1 down on aggregate after six minutes and, while Newcastle played the rest of the game at times like a training match, Qarabag to their credit refused to let their heads drop and capitulate.
The team from Bake have scored some good goals in their CL campaign and top scorer Duran notched another excellent one after he beat Burn for pace and fired past Ramsdale with a precise shot into the bottom corner.
Any remote thoughts that Qarabag had of staging a miracle comeback were buried just two minutes later when Sven Botman planted a 34mph bullet header past the keeper.
A handball by Burn led to a penalty and a good save from Ramsdale, but the player with the toughest name to pronounce in Qarabag's team scored from the rebound to pull the score back to 3-2.
That's how the game finished.
Qarabag and their fans can take some consolation, and pride, in winning the second half of this tie 2-1.
The minnows from Azerbaijan swam with the CL big fish and beat Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Copenhagen and drew with Chelsea.
Alex Murphy did well... but others didn't
Alex Murphy never gave the ball away in a confident display that will have pleased Eddie Howe and the coaching staff.
He came across well in his post match interview and let's hope he goes on to have a very good career at the club.
Two players who didn't enhance their reputations were Woltemade and Osula.
In some ways I am loathe to criticise Woltemade because he has scored ten goals in his debut season in a new league and, lately, in a new position.
But, up against a side 8-1 down on aggregate after six minutes, this was a game where he should have displayed his talent. Unfortunately, he did not.
Dispossessed time and again, and often hitting wayward passes, his one moment of pain relief was a sharp turn and through ball for Murphy that should have brought a goal and an assist.
Apart from that one moment nothing went right for Woltemade and I won't be surprised if Eddie decides to leave him out of the side that starts against Everton.
The rumour is that Will Osula has been banging on Eddie;s door demanding more game time. Well, he needs his knuckles rapped.
Five touches in the first half isn't a good case for more minutes and he needs to show a lot more in his game than chasing the oppo around the pitch.
Osula has shown flashes of talent but unless he pans out better between now and the end of the season then a transfer to Germany for anywhere near £30M is looking like a good deal for Newcastle.
Chelsea or Barcelona up next
Tonight might not have ended in the goal fest some were expecting but that shouldn't detract from an excellent Champions League campaign and qualification for the last 16.
Let that sink in...
The last 16 of the Champions League.
In a season that has been a let down so far in the Premier League, blighted by indifferent form from new and old signings, a raft of long term injuries to key players, and a gruelling fixture list... we've battled our way into the last stage of Europe's elite competition.
Nothing surprises me this season... good or bad.
And it wouldn't surprise me at all if we battled our way to the last eight.
Newcastle 9 - 3 Qarabag.
Nee arguing with that score.
Next up Everton at SJP on Saturday.
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Copied verbatim from the Chronic.
Is it a typo or a put down? 😂
"So there was method behind what I was trying to do with him as the same as Sven Bottleman, to try and keep these key players fit who haven't had a lot of football.
both Alex Murphy and Sharhar aquitted themselves well, I thought that Sharhar had the look of a player that could really shine for us.
Pity Eddie didn't give Neave some time he has to be better than Osula who bought the headless chicken joke into sharp focus.
Yeah, I tend to think both Wissa and Wolt will still be here next season, unless decent offers come in for them, and with Wissa I'd say no chance, and Wolt some chance, but I reckon most likely Eddie will change our attacking game plan for next season to get more out of them, particularly Wolt, who is a real talent, and at a great age for us.
As for holding onto players, if a good offer comes in, on better terms than we can give, and the player wants the move, then I'm sure we'll do the deal, and we do have some very very good players, so in that case it matters little what the club says now,…
I totally agree with Colin - on a night when they should have shined Osula and Woltemade were quite frankly crap. As I said earlier I'm losing patience with Woltemade - he can't play as a striker and was poor in midfield against a lesser team - where can he play? I'm actually amazed he gets in the Germany squad?
Best striker on the pitch tonight - Duran of Qarabang.
Took his goal well. Knew how to use space around our defenders. Was good in the first leg too. You can see why they've done well counterattacking against other teams.