🔗 Share this article

As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European points of the season.