🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters feared a tough match. But those worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine 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, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.