🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a tough match. But those fears vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.