Harvey Barnes Fires Twice as Newcastle Overcome Portuguese Side and Jose Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. However such worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.