Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho

When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a difficult match. But such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.