Harvey Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Overcome Benfica and Jose Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans feared a tough game. But such fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

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

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

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

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of securing the team's first European result of the campaign.