Gordon penalties lead Newcastle to big win over Union SG

Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali celebrates scoring their first goal during their UEFA Champions League match against Union Saint-Gilloise— Lotto Park, Anderlecht, Oct. 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 01 October 2025
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Gordon penalties lead Newcastle to big win over Union SG

  • Nick Woltemade flicked in Sandro Tonali’s shot to give Newcastle the lead in Brussels
  • Gordon converted twice from the spot on a comfortable night for Eddie Howe’s men

BRUSSELS: Anthony Gordon scored a pair of penalties as Newcastle eased to a 4-0 win away to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday to pick up their first points in the Champions League.
Nick Woltemade flicked in Sandro Tonali’s shot to give Newcastle the lead in Brussels before Gordon converted twice from the spot on a comfortable night for Eddie Howe’s men.

Harvey Barnes came off the bench to add a fourth as Newcastle responded well to a stinging Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and an opening loss in Europe to Barcelona two weeks ago.
Newcastle’s two most expensive summer signings Woltemade and Anthony Elanga started alongside Gordon for the first time with the club looking to move on from the acrimonious departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
Woltemade struck his third goal since arriving from Stuttgart for a club-record £69 million ($92 million) fee, getting a touch on Tonali’s volley to wrong-foot home goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and give Newcastle the lead on 17 minutes.

Elanga earned a penalty shortly before half-time after he was clattered by Fedde Leysen, with Gordon tucking it away to double Newcastle’s advantage at Anderlecht’s stadium, Union’s temporary home as their own does not meet UEFA standards.
Sweden international Elanga tested Scherpen straight after the interval before Union enjoyed their best spell. Nick Pope saved well from Adem Zorgane and Ousseynou Niang moments after Anan Khalaili steered narrowly wide for the Belgian champions.
Newcastle were awarded a second penalty following a VAR review for a handball by Kamiel Van de Perre, and Gordon made no mistake with another clinical spot-kick just past the hour.
Union, who beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 on their Champions League debut last month, saw their 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions come to a jarring end as Barnes wrapped up a convincing Newcastle victory by rounding off a breathless counterattack 10 minutes from time.


Ton-up Farhan helps Pakistan seal Super Eight spot with Namibia rout

Updated 19 February 2026
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Ton-up Farhan helps Pakistan seal Super Eight spot with Namibia rout

  • It was Farhan’s maiden T20 ton and he became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup century after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh

COLOMBO: Sahibzada Farhan hit a magnificent unbeaten century to help Pakistan seal the final Super Eight berth at the T20 World Cup with a thumping 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday.

Farhan scored 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and 10 fours as Pakistan posted 199-3 before they routed Namibia for 97 in 17.3 overs.

Pakistan’s victory took them to six points from four games in Group A and eliminated the United States, who finished with four points.

India also have six points and play the Netherlands in the group’s final game later Wednesday.

The defending champions India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies will play each other in the Super eights Group 1, hosted in India.

Pakistan join New Zealand, England and co-hosts Sri Lanka in Group 2, hosted in Sri Lanka.

After a morale-shattering 61-run defeat against India, Pakistan needed a victory to avoid an early exit, which was achieved with ease as spinners Usman Tariq (4-16) and Shadab Khan (3-19) tore through the Namibia batting.

Louren Steenkamp scored 23 while Alexander Busing-Volschenk was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 20.

‘Complete performance’ 

Skipper Salman Agha praised a clinical show.

“It is a complete performance,” said a relieved Agha.

“We batted well and Farhan anchored the innings. He has been batting well for a while and I am happy that he got his hundred.

“With the ball we were lethal.”

Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus admitted Pakistan’s spin bowlers were too hot to handle.

“It (spin) is a special skill to have, to turn the ball both ways like they do,” said Erasmus.

“I think that’s one of the things we’ll definitely take home and look to improve on.”

Farhan earlier blasted a six and a four off pace bowler Jack Brassell to enter the 90s before taking a single off Gerhard Erasmus to complete his hundred in the final over.

It was Farhan’s maiden T20 ton and he became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup century after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh.

Shadab Khan, promoted to No. 5 with Babar Azam left out, hit three sixes and a four in his 36 not out off 22 balls as Pakistan smashed 42 from the last three overs.

Farhan put on 40 for the opening wicket with Saim Ayub (14) before consolidating the innings during a 67-run second wicket stand with captain Salman Agha (38).

Pakistan also left out pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi after a poor show in the first three matches, including conceding 31 in two overs in the defeat against India on Sunday.

Farhan’s ton means this is the first T20 World Cup in which three centuries have been scored.

He followed Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, who scored a hundred against Australia on Monday, and Canada’s Yuvraj Sama who reached three figures against New Zealand on Tuesday.