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.


Dubai Basketball in good form ahead of Bayern Munich clash

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Dubai Basketball in good form ahead of Bayern Munich clash

  • Dubai tackle German club on the back of wins in ABA League and tight EuroLeague clash

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball closed a demanding week on two fronts with a statement win in the ABA League and a narrow, hard-fought EuroLeague battle in Bologna, underscoring the team’s rising profile across Europe’s top competitions.

Last night, Dubai Basketball extended their flawless start to the ABA League Group A campaign, securing an 8-0 record with an impressive 74-88 road victory over Igokea in Laktasi.

The team controlled the game from the early stages to build a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. From there, the visitors managed the contest with confidence and precision on both ends of the floor.

Mfiondu Kabengele delivered a standout performance, producing 20 points, 10 rebounds and a 29 valuation. McKinley Wright guided the offence masterfully, contributing 10 first-half points and shaping Dubai’s rhythm throughout the night.

The win preserved Dubai’s perfect ABA League record as they continue to set the pace in Group A.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Dubai Basketball’s Head Coach Jurica Golemac said: “This was a very important victory for us after a tough loss three days ago. The team showed a professional approach from the start and controlled the game for 40 minutes.

“Twenty-seven assists tell the story; we played team basketball, shared the ball, stayed physical on defense and deserved the win. We take the positives and move forward.”

A dramatic EuroLeague Round 14 encounter against Virtus Bologna on Friday saw Dubai fall just short, 79-78, after a tense fourth-quarter finish.

Despite overturning a 13-point deficit to lead at half-time and winning the rebounding battle 39-30, a pair of late three-pointers from Virtus Bologna’s Luca Vildoza proved decisive.

With the club sitting at 6–8 in the EuroLeague and firmly in the hunt, all eyes now turn to the home game against Bayern Munich in Round 15 at Coca-Cola Arena on Dec. 12.