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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. However such fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the season.