Harvey Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Overcome Benfica and Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough game. However such fears disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach 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 showed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.