🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. However such worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the season.