🔗 Share this article

When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker back. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.