🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed another attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable poise to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.