Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho
When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home fans feared a tough match. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Initial Exchanges
Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.
Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.
Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.
Critical Moments and Decisive Actions
The visitors' tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.
Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.
Yet when Lukebakio hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.
The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area proved effective.
When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over ÂŁ55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.
Second Half and Decisive Substitutions
Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.
The first half ended with the keeper again saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.
If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.
The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.
Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Wins the Game
Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes'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 fire a superb shot past the keeper.
After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.
