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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another attempt against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the season.