Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Early Exchanges
The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.
Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and injury each.
Before kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.
Critical Events and Decisive Actions
The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they at first struggled to create clear chances.
Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.
Yet when the winger hit a further shot off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.
Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.
On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Substitutions
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.
The first half concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.
If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.
The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach 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 risk that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Game
Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.
The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.
When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.
