Young Flying Eagles

Newcastle United U19 1-5 Benfica U19 (UEFA Youth League Group Stages)

It's all going off today. I'm heading north whilst listening in to the radio, Sean Dyche is the new boss of Forest, Danny Rohl announced in charge of Rangers whilst Ian Evatt has got the Blackpool job. West Ham are getting slated on air for last night's dismal performance against Brentford and the outcry from the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban by Birmingham (West Midlands) Police has finally ended out of Westminster, thankfully with no politicians involved, after Maccabi themselves announce they don't want their fans to come to a racist and unsafe country like England.

I've got a double header today. I was given Newcastle United's U19 match against Benfica and told my bosses, due to the distance of travel involved, I'll only do it if you give me another game in the evening, hoping to get Newcastle against same opposition in the Champions League tonight, I got South Shields v Scarborough, which I suppose will do.

So on to the early game, Newcastle have lost both of their UEFA Youth League matches so far, a 3-2 defeat at home to Barcelona followed by a 2-0 loss against Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.

As for Benfica, they got off to a phenomenal start to their European campaign with a 7-1 win over Qarabag before a 5-2 loss at Chelsea, if anything today, I'm expecting goals.

It's a 3 hour drive and a 2pm kick off so I leave ahead of 10am to give myself plenty of time, up the M1, I miss the turning for the M18, daydreaming with the back drop of TalkSport rambling in my ear, so continue past Sheffield and Leeds, onto the A1 and eventually off onto the A194(M) heading for and through the Tyne Tunnel (which is £2.50 a pop).

The Venue

Whitley Park is the training ground of Newcastle United Football Club. In the Benton area of the city, it's north of the town centre, quiet, leafy, rural, I stop off at the local Asda for a wee before pulling up on Whitley Road to park.

My first time here, it's not obvious where to go as I take a walk down the track towards Newcastle United's Academy, before being told to turn back on myself and enter further up the street.

The complex itself is a little dated looking from the outside feeling more like an old school or army barracks. A huge sports hall with a curved roof and a couple of brick buildings beside it. The turnstiles are easy enough to spot in between and as I enter, elevated looking down on the pitch side on, I notice it looks nothing more than a step 6 or 7 venue fenced off with a cricket pitch behind, near side is a couple of tin roofed stands where no more than fifty or so can congregate up on the bank, behind one goal another low roofed standing area, the rest uncovered, open to the elements, as I spot a serving hatch in the building behind me, somewhere at least, where I can get a cup of tea.

Brew in hand with a Twix I look for a spot where I can call home, asking the steward if it's ok to take my tea pitch side, eventually walking around to opposite where I came in. Halfway, almost, leant against a barrier where I'm joined by a couple of Benfica supporters, smelling the grass, listening in to the Portuguese players chirp in their pre-game warm up, there's a few fans and scouts, delegates and attendees on the bank above, as more folk start to walk around and gather round me.

The Game

I don't know what to do with my coat, it's warm but cold, dry but wet, one of those typical October days in England where you don't know what the weather's going to do next.

I take it off and lie it on the floor before putting it back on again, the sunshine going behind the clouds for kick off as the skies turn grey, nip back in the air, rain is pending as Benfica in red and baggy white shorts, get us under way against Newcastle in classic black and white stripes.

The travelling team are technical, talented, you can see they have the advantage in quality, that touch of calmness in their play, midfielders Quintas and Freitas boss things whilst the micro like mini Moreira glides around wearing number ten. He reminds of Juninho, especially in that baggy red and white kit which sends me back to the 90's and those brilliant Middlesbrough days under Bryan Robson.

Another player impressing is nicknamed 'Dudu' on the left wing, Eduardo Fernandes is technical with speed he plays a bit like Angel di Maria, whilst up front Souza takes aim with every chance he gets, a classic number nine of modern qualities, touch, technique, he draws defenders in, backs into their chest with good strength and looks to have natural finishing ability too. He's persistent, which I like.

Benfica are largely the enforcers during a dominant first half, they have a few shots off target from range before finally breaking the deadlock, Dudu set free to fire low, past Mair to give the young Eagles a half time lead.

The Score

It's been a feisty one at times with a couple of bookings, Newcastle, the Magpies, know there best chance is to ruffle the feathers of Benfica who are nicknamed As Aguias (The Eagles), but they ruffle too hard when Watts dangles a leg out inside the area on 54. Moreira's measured pass almost intercepted by the Newcastle defender, but Souza's leg was taken down as he nipped in to take the ball and a penalty is rightly awarded by the Referee from Belgium. 'Falta' shouts the Portuguese speaking Benfica fan besides me.

The little playmaker couldn't however finish what he started, Moreira's low penalty is poor to the left of Mair and is saved which is greeted by joy from a number of young school kids watching behind the goal.

You might have thought that let off would lift Newcastle but it only fuels the fire of Benfica more. They double advantage when Mair fails to hold a shot from outside the box, Sousa sniffing, poaching predatory home from close range, then Dudu doubles his tally with another, before Moreira finally got the goal his game deserved, a mazy dribble before unleashing right footed in off the post. A deep roar of 'Gol' from behind the goal follows the clattering of the metal upright and bristle of the nest bustle.

That gives the away side an unassailable 4-0 lead before a few changes are made to rest up their young stars legs, a late rally provides a couple of chances for Newcastle and they do get one back with a bit of persistence from substitute Joe Bryson who's set free down the left, but Dudu gets his hat trick late on to crown a five star performance by the Portuguese boys in red. It's been very easy as their technical excellence and team ethic is far superior of that of their hosts.

The Stars

Dudu is a leggy left sider that likes to cut in and shoot, his rangy running at defenders and technical ability means he's a constant menace for opposition full backs to contain and he looked to be the forward most likely to open the deadlock before he did, going on to score a hat-trick shows you what a good player he is.

I really like Moreira, diminutive (I tried to avoid that word) but he's 5ft5 with nothing on him, wizardry with the ball at his feet though and his goal, the goal of the game was after a jinking run and fine finish.

Moreira is allowed to play in that ten role in midfield without the shackles, because behind him, Benfica have two enforcers, very good in the central area, Freitas and Quintas both neat on the ball, easy on the eye, with physical presence, this young Benfica side looks to have a lot of future stars.

One of those stars I have seen previously play for Portugal U19's. Goncalo Oliveira is captain, centre half, he looks unfit, out of shape, not particularly tall for a defender around 6ft, I get the feeling he doesn't like running, but he's aerially brilliant, has a lovely left peg, is completely committed. a bit of old skool mentality and I really want to see how he progresses.

A couple more players I'll be keeping an eye on, centre forward Francisco Silva (nicknamed Souza) with his bleach blonde hair looked to have a lot of modern day 'number nine' style qualities in his locker, whilst seventeen year old Jaden Umeh, an Irish boy, signed from Cork City, he's absolutely huge, technical and powerful, he came on late on, played left side of a front three.

Whilst this was a bit of a one sided event, Newcastle did have one or two who looked like they can play. Defensively they were too easily done but their captain and right back Leo Shahar was committed, as was Logan Watts on the left side of centre half, he's big and solid and had a good battle with Benfica forward Souza.

In midfield, Anthony Munda for me, looked head and shoulders the Magpies best player. Calm, physical, good safe distribution, he played with intelligence and despite the big loss, had a very good game.

Out left, Seung-soo Park, the youngest player ever to score in professional Korean football, looked brilliant in the first half, rapid he drove at defenders and made things happen, but lost his way in the second half, so badly, at one point he attempted to pass back to the keeper and gave away a corner. His replacement, Alfie Seldon, just 16 years old, came on late on, looked game and battled well, his running contributing to Newcastle's goal which was scored by another sub in Joe Brayson.

The Verdict

Newcastle United's first team would go on to blitz Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League later in the evening, it really is interesting, and slightly depressing, that at youth level, progressing players through their ranks, Benfica have the pick of Portugal, and through their academy produce some of the top teen talent in world football, which will inevitably one day, be pinched, poached, signed all be it for big money, by big Premier League clubs and alike, perhaps even Newcastle will simply steal some stars away from la luz, which is detriment to their own academy system, which is why in a way, you wonder, do clubs like Newcastle, with money made from the Premier League, actually need an academy?

We've seen plenty of success stories (plus PSR income) to suggest it is certainly worth Premier League clubs investing in their academies, Newcastle United in recent years have done well, with the likes Elliot Anderson, the Longstaff's and Miley's, long before that we remember a certain sensation with the nickname of 'Gazza' and what better way to highlight your clubs great work in the community, by bringing home grown talent through.

The Teams

Newcastle United: George Mair, Leo Shahar, Henry Johnson, Logan Watts, Dylan Charlton, Anthony Munda, Sean Neave (Baran Yildiz 87), Scott Bailey (Rory Finneran 61), Adedamola Alabi (Mohamed Waddani 71), Kacey Wooster (Joe Brayson 61), Seung-soo Park (Alfie Seldon 61).

Benfica: Diogo Ferreira, Daniel Banjaqui (Duarte Soares 80), Rui Silva, Goncalo Oliveira, Jose Neto, Rafael Quintas (Miguel Figueiredo 71), Tiago Freitas, Goncalo Moreira (Gil Neves 80), Coletta (Jaden Umah 71), Souza (Joao Afonso 87), Dudu.

2:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 21st October 2025, Whitley Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (att 426).