Harvey Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho
When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a tough game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.
Match Dynamics and Initial Action
The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.
Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.
Before kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.
Key Events and Turning Points
The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate good opportunities.
Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio directed another shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.
Gordon's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area paid off.
When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over ÂŁ55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.
Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions
From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.
The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.
While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.
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 fans were nervous every time he advanced.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.
Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.
Barnes Wins the Match
Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.
When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.
