Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho
As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.
Game Dynamics and Early Action
Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.
Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.
Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.
Key Events and Turning Points
The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear opportunities.
Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.
Yet when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.
Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.
On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.
Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies 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 wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.
While Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.
The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.
The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading 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 forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.
Barnes Wins the Match
Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.
The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.
When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.
