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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough game. But such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt against the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning 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 repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, 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.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.