Harvey Barnes Fires Twice as The Magpies Overcome Benfica and Jose Mourinho

When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. However those worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League points of the season.