Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho
As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a tough match. But those fears vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.
Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges
Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.
Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.
Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.
Critical Events and Turning Points
Benfica's tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.
Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.
Yet when the winger directed another shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.
The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.
When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Changes
Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger 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 once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.
While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.
Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Game
Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.
Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.
When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League result of the season.
