Barnes Fires Two Goals as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Jose Mourinho
As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters were concerned about a tough game. However those fears disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.
Game Dynamics and Early Action
Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.
Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.
Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.
Key Moments and Decisive Actions
The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they initially found it hard to generate good opportunities.
Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.
But when the winger hit another shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.
The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.
When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over ÂŁ55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.
Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes
From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.
The opening period ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.
If Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.
The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.
Barnes Wins the Game
Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.
The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.
After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.
