Harvey Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a tough game. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.
Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges
The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent passing rhythm.
Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.
Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.
Key Moments and Decisive Actions
Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.
Additionally, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.
But when Lukebakio hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.
The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.
When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.
Later Stages and Decisive Changes
Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.
The first half ended with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.
If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.
The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.
Barnes Wins the Match
Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.
The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.
When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.
