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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.