🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a tough match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the season.