Harvey Barnes Scores Twice as Newcastle Overcome Portuguese Side and Mourinho

As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a tough match. But those fears vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.