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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough game. However those worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed another shot against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.