Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough match. However those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.
Match Dynamics and Initial Action
Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.
Compounding the home team's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.
Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.
Key Moments and Decisive Actions
Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.
Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.
Yet when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.
The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.
When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.
Second Half and Match-Winning Changes
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at the break.
The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.
If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.
Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.
Barnes Seals the Match
Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.
Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.
When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.
