Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. But those fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.
Game Flow and Initial Action
The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.
Compounding Newcastle's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.
Before the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.
Key Events and Decisive Actions
The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.
Moreover, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.
Yet when the winger directed another shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.
Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area paid off.
When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.
Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions
From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.
The first half concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.
While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.
Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.
The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.
Harvey Barnes Seals the Game
Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker back. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.
Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.
When Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.