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Team of leading goalscorers in Champions League Even at this early stage it has been associated with common names. But Kylian Mbappe (five), Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have all been involved in four goals scored by an unpredictable marksman, England And newcastle united‘S Anthony Gordon,
as Thomas Tuchel Cracked down on his England starters There is positivity on the left wing of St James’ Park for the World Cup.
Gordon is building on his solid, goal-scoring form for England Productivity and making headlines Among the elite of Europe. club boss eddie howe Now Gordon will make a reasonable demand to move his big game show to regular league games.
The 24-year-old youth was a pioneer in taming jose mourinhois disappearing benfica On the heels of a 3-0 win, running around finding space, taking his ball to relieve pressure and adding a killer touch in front of goal.
After international teammate and left-sided rival Rashford scored twice for Barcelona in the opening kick-off (a 6–1 win over Olympiacos) Gordon stepped up to perform well on Tyneside.
The goal in the 32nd minute was his fourth in three European games. It’s been a good eight days for the Scouser after rising up the pecking order for his country – scoring the opener and securing World Cup qualification – 5-0 win over Latvia Last week.
Gordon’s season has mirrored Newcastle’s swings. In the second game of the campaign against Liverpool he released one very polite and gracious apology And roared even stronger, at least in Europe.
This was followed by a goal against Barcelona and a double in a 4–0 win over Union Saint-Gillois. Then a crucial opener here against Benfica, from Jacob Murphy’s first-time cross. After Malik Thiaw made a strong save, Bruno Guimaraes pounced on the ball for Murphy to clear.
Gordon practices meditation and visualization to aid his performance, but goal-wise can’t imagine being in such famous company.
This is a player who has only scored in double figures in one season, 12 in 2022-23, although 26 goals in 90 club career starts (and 24 as a sub) is a very good return from out wide.
The second half brought confidence and Gordon set up Ricardo Ríos to trouble Benfica several times. England’s left-wing rivals like Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish need to create their own identity, or it is a two-man race between Gordon and Rashford for the World Cup shirt.
Not surprisingly, there was a thunderous applause at St James’ Park when Gordon was given a five-minute rest from time on.
“Becoming the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games means everything,” Gordon said. “But we need more, my ambition doesn’t stop there. We had to calm the nerves.”
Sub Harvey Barnes was one of the beneficiaries of the home team’s dominance, scoring twice. The first came from a remarkable NFL quarterback style, 65-yard throw out by field goalie Nick Pope.
He caught a cross in the 70th minute and fired it into Benfica’s half from his own box, with Barnes sprinting past Anatoly Trubin. The winger scored the second goal in the 83rd minute – he now has three goals in Europe this season – and Newcastle have laid a good foundation to qualify from the group stage.
It’s difficult to predict exactly what you’ll get from the Magpies this season, as they search for flow and midfield balance. Progress one day, lack of ideas and goals the next. This will increase confidence as you discover a powerful rhythm.
There is still excitement when Champions League matches come to Tyneside, there is no fatigue or doubt due to their rarity.
This was only Newcastle’s 27th Champions League group stage game and 10th win. And that helps Howe’s team avoid domestic upsets. “We scored three great goals and it’s a great result. We have threatened with such performances. Confidence is returning in our attacking players,” said the boss
“Anthony, actually both of our wingers performed really well. Anthony was direct on and off the ball and excellent athletically.”
Howe talked about a team’s changes and “frustration” but was dispelled. “A new way of doing things”, was Howe’s pre-match finding.
The development accelerated with Joelinton being ruled out for a big game. Jacob Ramsey started on the left side of the midfield three and was disciplined. On the right, illness ruled out Sandro Tonali, giving home teenager Lewis Miley a chance, and he is growing with experience and athleticism in the scrap.
It is this team in flux, but perhaps with more options than last season, that has taken a big positive side. Adding continuity by sending Spurs away to Fulham at the weekend and in the Carabao Cup next week would be the next season-building step.
Mourinho pulled Gordon aside after the game and admitted he was a “problem”. A worthy support.