Harvey Barnes Fires Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho
As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. However such worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.
Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges
Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.
Compounding the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.
Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.
Critical Moments and Decisive Actions
Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate good opportunities.
Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.
Yet when the winger hit another attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.
The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.
On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Decisive Substitutions
Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.
The opening period ended with Pope again saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.
While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.
The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were nervous every time he advanced.
Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.
Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.
Barnes Seals the Match
Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.
Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.
When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.
