🔗 Share this article

When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough match. But those worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.