Barnes Scores Two Goals as Newcastle Defeat Benfica and Mourinho
As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But those fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.
Game Flow and Initial Action
Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.
Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.
Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.
Key Events and Decisive Actions
Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.
Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.
But when Lukebakio directed a further shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.
Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.
When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.
Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions
From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.
The opening period ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.
While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.
The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he moved forward.
Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.
The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.
Barnes Wins the Match
Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.
Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.
When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.
