🔗 Share this article Barnes Fires Two Goals as The Magpies Defeat Benfica and Mourinho As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. However those fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle. Match Flow and Initial Exchanges Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm. Adding to Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and injury respectively. Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible. Critical Moments and Decisive Actions Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate good chances. Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament. Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock. Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective. On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish. Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at half-time. The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised. While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas. The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced. The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy. The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far. Harvey Barnes Wins the Match Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player. Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past Trubin. After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first Champions League points of the season.