Barnes Fires Two Goals as The Magpies Defeat Portuguese Side and Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. However those fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their own combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.