🔗 Share this article

As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough game. However such fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.