Barnes Scores Twice as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult match. However those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Initial Action
The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.
Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.
Prior to the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.
Key Events and Decisive Actions
The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear chances.
Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.
Yet when the winger directed another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.
Gordon's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area proved effective.
On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.
Second Half and Match-Winning Changes
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.
The opening period concluded with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.
If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.
The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Match
Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.
The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.
When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.
